Along with other VMC young church leaders, Alex from Citizens Church (Elmira, ON) recently attended a missional prayer conference in New York City.
The first night was all about asking God to move in the city, based on the premise that God comes where God is wanted.
Alex noted that sometimes we lower our expectation of God in order to avoid disappointment.
It’s a way to protect ourselves.
It also may reveal our prescribed or preferred ways of seeing God work, meaning that we expect God to only work in specific ways.
But lowered expectations can forget the bigness of God.
What does it mean to pray with expectation?
Alex realized that it requires surrender,
depends upon vulnerability,
and reveals a deep reliance of the Spirit.
We have to be willing to take risks.
We may look foolish.
Praying with expectation may mean actually believing that God can act.
More than just saying the right things, but believing, hoping – even though we can’t see a way forward.
It may mean contending with God – reminding God what God said and what God has promised.
We may have to wrestle with God, just like Jacob did.
We may look like fools for God.
Photo credit: Jacob Bentzinger (Unsplash)