(Be blessed by this DWOD by guest contributor Peggy Kennedy)

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” (Luke 1:45)

Oh the power of expectation.  And, when you merge it with perseverance, you have a very, very potent mix!  Threaded throughout the Christmas story of Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2 are so many different examples of persevering expectation. 

Remember, this is not just a sweet, seasonal story.  This is the Lord’s detailed handbook on how He works among His divinely-called participants to reveal Himself to our world.  You are in that script!  I Corinthians 13 names three essential elements that are present when we are participating in His Presence:  faith, hope, and love.  That word “hope” is the same Greek word for expectation!  The three are threaded together and are inseparable. 

I was in a service recently where we were singing, “We are standing on holy ground…and I know that there are angels all around…”  I asked a question of the Lord, “So, if there are angels here, what are they doing?”  The Spirit’s reply was amazing:  I “saw” angels moving up and down the aisle re-igniting flames of expectation among the Lord’s people!  Where some were flickering, they built up that flame.  Where others were nearly blown out by contrary winds, they cupped their hands to protect the flame and lingered to make sure it ignited again.  That was a wonderful moment.  The Lord has no desire for us to live in the shadows of dimmed expectation!

There’s power in negative expectation, too.  Even in Matthew 2 and Luke 1 and 2 you have examples of the absence of expectation.  Although Zachariah likely embraced the Lord’s plan to “someday” fulfill prophecy and send the Messiah, he eliminated himself from the occasion.  The messenger Gabriel had to deal with that negative expectation!  Graciously the Lord worked to sustain the fulfillment of the word and include Zachariah! 

Likely Joseph is swarmed with negative expectation as he imagines the worst for his beloved, espoused Mary when the word gets out that she is pregnant.  He does his best to protect her.  However, heaven’s plan was better.  An angel sends a message and reignites expectation! 

Perhaps when both Joseph and Mary heard about the census that would necessitate a trip from Nazareth to faraway Bethlehem, they had negative expectations.  It seemed that the plans of God were totally inconvenienced!  But, not so!  The Lord intervened (even in the midst of the negative reality of “no room at the inn”) and the word of the Lord was fulfilled.  Later on they would be warned by an angel to leave and flee to Egypt. Now they are seasoned “responders” with sufficient confidence and expectation of the Lord’s ultimate plan…all in alignment with the prophetic word!

Simeon and Anna are in this account of the Lord’s wonderful ways.  They both have great stamina in expectation.  No dimming or dullness about them!  And, they were not disappointed! You will not be either! 

Most of our negative expectations never come to pass!  Our God is the Divine Interceptor of “what could be” to make it conform to His plans!  And, should what we dread come to pass, then He has pledged Himself to “work” it for good…and often the greater glory!  You love Him and are participating with Him as one of the people of His plan.  Allow your faithful God to fan the flame of your expectation.

(“Peggy Kennedy carries a powerful anointing to consistently bring the Word of the Lord in a way that is both powerful and timely…mantled to walk in a heavenly grace that brings people of diverse backgrounds together in unity”—Matt Tapley. To sign up for periodic revelations from Peggy, please visit. www.TwoSilverTrumpets.ca)