EXPECTATION TRUMPS EXPERIENCE

“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” – Genesis 17:5

REFERENCE:

GENESIS 17:1-8

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning Father of Nations, and promised him and his aged wife a son through whom Abraham would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. However, at that point, it looked impossible and unimaginable. His experience or present facts made God’s promise look impracticable; his promised expectation was overwhelmed by his experience. So, what are the differences between experience and expectation? Experience exists in the realm of reality, while expectation only resides in the realm of possibility. Experience speaks of one’s history, while expectation speaks of destiny; one is past, the other is future; one is like a car’s rear-view mirror, the other is like its windshield; one speaks of what you have been through, the other of where God is taking you to. Experience stems from the story of man, but expectation grows out of the Word (the promises) of God.

Never allow your experience to intimidate you; it doesn’t intimidate God; it can change! Therefore, you must let go one for the other because the two cannot co-exist. Keep in mind that you serve a God who is a life-changer, who promises and it comes to pass; as long as He has said it, it must happen. He does not need any raw material from your yesterday to fabricate your glorious tomorrow. He does not consult your experience to create your expectation. He only consults His love, His word, His power and His plan. For that reason, let your expectation rise above your experience, because it is rooted in the aforementioned attributes of God. Let your expectation trump (outdo or triumph over) your experience.

Now that you know that God never consults your experience to decide your expectations or the glorious future He has laid out for you, you have to overcome and defeat the hold experience has over you. How?

• Forget the past and reach for the future. Let the pain and hurt go. Forgive and release. Look ahead!
• Change your speech. Talk your expectation. Don’t keep voicing your experience; it is in the past.
• Stop generalizing: We often say, “All men/women are…People from this race are…Pastors are…All fintech companies are…etc.” Understand that this new lady is not her, this teacher is different from the last and this organization is different. You are different. Today is a new day, so things are different.
• Come to a place of full persuasion about your expectation and keep your faith turned on.
• Focus on the Character of God – faithful is He who has promised. Borrow a leaf from Sarah who ‘judged’ Him faithful who has promised.” Job said, “I know my Redeemer lives…even after my skin is destroyed, I will yet see God.”
• Don’t write yourself off; there is a miracle that will still come out of your life, it may be long in coming, but wait for it. Job said “I will wait all the days of my struggle, until my change and release will come.” Don’t give up! Let your expectation supersede your experiences.

Begin today to give voice to your expectation and declare it in faith. “Be it unto me according to Your word…” “I know my Redeemer lives…” “I will be a parent…” “I will conquer this subject…” “It is my season of success.” Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all these. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you. Your experiences no longer have dominion over you. All God has promised you will happen; your eyes will see them and your hands will hold them. From this day forward, your expectation trumps your experience. Halleluyah!

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL STUDY

Genesis 18:9-14, Job 14:14 & Jeremiah 29:11

PRAYER POINTS

+ Lord, I break every power of yesterday speaking over my destiny – no matter how far back that yesterday is (generational). I free my mind from the conditioning of my experience.

+ Father, heal my heart from every hurt, disappointment, betrayal, abuse, being used and dumped, and everything that has made it difficult for me to trust You and expect Your intervention.

+ Lord, let Your mercy speak for me and grant me grace to wait until I receive my miracle. Like Sarah, I judge You faithful, for ‘Faithful is He who has promised, Who also will do it.’  Your zeal Oh Lord will perform it.