Open Heavens 8 June 2016: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Positive Expectations

Topic: Positive Expectations [Wednesday 8, June 2016]
Memorise: The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. – Proverbs 10:28
Read: Acts 3:1-8 (KJV)
 1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 31-32, Ecclesiastes 4:1-8
MESSAGE:
 Being positive is vital to our walk as Christians. To be positive is an expression of our confidence in the Almighty God and His Word. Hence, a positive expectation is an act motivated by the Word of God, it is proof that all will be well, an evidence that you are bigger than all your problems and circumstances, an assurance that today’s situation does not determine tomorrow’s glory, and that as long as you are connected to Jesus, all your stories will turn out to be great testimonies. You cannot achieve your goals in life if you are not optimistic. When you are positive about the outcome of every situation, what the devil meant for evil will always turn out good for you. Every outstanding event in a man’s life will always be as a result of his expectation in God. No wonder Jesus said in Mark 9:23
“….. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”
Expectations help us to operate at a level where there is no impossibility in our dictionary. The crippled man in today’s Bible reading had been in that situation for a long time. Everyone who passed by the beautiful gate knew that there was a man there who was always begging for arms, but when his moment of change came, nothing could stop him from obtaining his miracle. I decree into the life of a user of this devotional believing God for the fruit of the womb, an end has come to your barrenness in Jesus’ name. The crippled man was expecting money as usual, but he was given something that was much more than money. Even if you do not have enough faith, the power of God is not dependent upon your faith only. God is committed to showing His glory in your life. Have you been trusting God for something and you feel that God is getting too late? Don’t worry, in His time, everything becomes beautiful. They that trust in the Lord can never be put to shame. For this reason, you have to ensure that when God is distributing His blessings, you are not exempted. There are people who cannot have a divine appointment with God because they are still living in sin. Have you lost your relationship with God? You have to come back to Him. He is a faithful Father who will not reward you according to your sins once you repent of them. The righteous look forward to the future, but there is no future for anyone who is still in sin. The wicked are always fearful because they know that they will reap the rewards of their sins. When one is obedient to the will of God, he becomes confident in what God is capable of doing with his life. Obedience brings the assurance of a glorious future, while disobedience to God brings an assurance of the wrath and anger of God. You will not be visited with the wrath of God in Jesus’ name.
Key point: The end of a righteous man will always be peace.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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