Demand and expectation

Scriptural Readings: Philippians 4:6-7,19; John 14:27

Demand and expect are normal human behaviors. For some, these things become a habit. We have made laws twisted them and become accustomed to it and to the extent that it has transformed and taken them with us on having evil things in our lives. Abortion, divorce and the list goes on and to make things worst, we are trying to add more.

As Christians, can we benefit from these laws?

We are in a situation that we have to have needs and the worst way of having these needs is demanding God. We have carried our attitude in praying to God that we are demanding things from Him. It is a foolish thing to demand from God. God is not a genie, a magical spirit believed to take human form and serve the person who calls it. It is the other way around. We  call upon Him and we serve Him. When praying we should not demand. We request from God. We humble ourselves and we go to the throne of grace with humbleness and we request(pray) God for our petitions and not to demand from God.

There is no doubt God hears us through Jesus but the attitude we’re having and showing will not be fully taken into consideration because of arrogance and having intentions not according to His will. Half of the world is in chaos. Even the richest countries in the world are now battling with so many things in order to return to their former glory and what do we do? We demand a lot and expect our own selfish decisions to come up. We think that we are doing the right things collectively but the truth is we are having our selfish motivation individually. Have we thought about why almost one half of this planet is killing each other and dividing even their own countries?

Philippians 4:6-7

v. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

v.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

It is all about request and result not demand and expect. When we pray (request), God answers(results) prayers. God sees not the words we say but our purpose and intention in our hearts. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore we should know what we lack and need therefore in our spiritual lives. These are the things that we have to pray(request)for. Remember that God knows everything! Even before we say a single word, He knows our purpose and intentions. If we make a request(a prayer)and the result is different from what we know, there is something that God wants us to know or do something else. As Christians we should not rely on expectations because this will cause frustrations and many more but we have to rely on God’s revelations through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. From this, a strong personal relationship to our Lord Jesus is established. From God through Jesus, we will be having our strong spiritual matureness living the spiritual way God intended in us to be.

The Father did not demand Jesus to go down and became a man to save us. The Son of the living God humbled Himself became a man and the result was salvation to mankind. This is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior. The good news. Despite the middle of turmoil and uncertainties, we do not have to demand and expect but instead we should be in no doubt in total peace.

Let us get rid of demand and expect. Of the many things that we are looking for is true peace of mind. As we continue to have an attitude of demand and expect we will always have the result of wanting more and expecting more and thus peace becomes unattainable. 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Let us accept the peace that the Lord Jesus left and offered us. This is the start of redirecting our lives from dissatisfaction to contentment. This life that we willfully submitted to Jesus Christ will be changed. We will see and act on His will that will make others see we are His disciples and children of our heavenly Father. We have to put in our minds that God knows our needs and will supply them and not what we want in our lives. If we try to read carefully God said that He will supply the needs and not the wants. Dissatisfaction starts when we try to want things that we do not need. We should not even try to want things that we do not need.

I Timothy 6:6-12

v.6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

v.7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.

v.8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

v.9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

v.10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

v.11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

v.12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.