“Be standing tall, and look strong and expectant when it comes.”
The other day, I was feeling tired from the long journey. I wrote the devotional about the last step of the journey and the first step into the Promise Land as a result. I knew that I just needed to praise God and claim in expectant belief what He was bringing to pass for me and my family. I knew that just because I “felt” tired, and just because I hadn’t “seen” the results of the labor yet, I knew that my faith in His mighty power would bring it to fruition. I refused to let my thoughts go in any other direction; however, I will say that it took a concentrated effort to keep my thoughts focused. I thought about laying face down on the floor and praying to God for mercy, but then, I thought, that position and thoughts of begging for mercy would not be a reflection of a strong belief that He was performing miracles on my behalf this very second. If I were to lay face down on the floor, I would like someone who “didn’t believe enough to claim victory; I would look like someone who was begging for victory, and I knew I didn’t have to beg for God to do mighty things in my life. I also thought of what my good friend, said to me one day. “Kristina, I read a scripture today, and I laughed out loud and I thought of you.”
And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
Daniel 10:10-11
She told me that she was reading in Daniel about how Daniel became overwhelmed by what God had shown him, and he fell to the ground, unable to stand. Then, a hand touched him and told him to stand up. I had shared with her how one day, I just lay flat on the floor with my face to the ground, asking, begging God to help me, strengthen me and equip me. I’m not trying to make fun of myself (but you must know that I will find humor in most situations if not in the moment – I will find humor later, for sure) because I was at a point where my knees weren’t low enough to pray for something. I needed to be in a position that was more intense than mere knees. I knew that only God could do something in this particular situation, and I was flat on my face asking Him to do so. She had felt that way in her life too. I remember reading in Beth Moore’s book, “Get out of that Pit” that she had done the same too. She makes a joke about having gravel in her forehead! Anyway, it was months past the time I told my friend that I had been laying with my face-flat to the ground, and she was reading about Daniel, on the ground, unable to stand, and she thought of me laying face-flat on the ground seeking God. She laughed out loud thinking about an angel showing up and saying, “What are you doing down there? Stand up!” We find humor in the Word and in relation to ourselves. Sometimes laughter keeps us from crying, and laughter is cheap therapy.
On this particular day, however, I was thinking that I did not want to be found laying with my face-flat on the ground when the tangible evidence of my many prayers arrived in my life. I didn’t want to be found like a soldier, hiding behind a wall of doubt when the relief helicopter showed up. I don’t want the angel flying the helicopter to have to get out of the helicopter to come find me hiding under a bush! Likewise, I envision a delivery truck of blessings that have my name on it; a personal delivery of blessings from God. I know that the delivery truck full of His blessings in my life are coming! I want to be standing on my front door and walk down the driveway and help direct the truck-driver back up so the blessings can be unloaded! In a nut shell, I want to look as if I believed that it was coming when the tangible evidence actually does arrive! And my faith confirms that unless I am standing there believing in big things from God, the big things more than likely won’t show up anyway because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). I knew in my mind’s eye, that I wanted to be found standing tall and firm with an expectant look on my face (not with my face-flat to the ground, begging for victory). You see, I want to look as if a soldier who knows the victory has already been won! Besides, there’s more energy there. If I am standing tall, firm and expectant, my thoughts and prayers, and behaviors will reflect that stance, making myself available to let God use me to gain more territory for The Kingdom. If I am doubting and begging with my face to the ground, my thoughts, prayers and actions will reflect that stance as well; and I’ll be much more stagnant in all areas of my life. Henry Ford said, “Whether you believe you can or you believe that you can’t – you are right.” I agree. I would like to add my own quote: “Whether you believe in faith, or believe in doubt – you are right.”
When God spoke, “Be standing strong, and look expectant when it comes.” I was reminded that He agrees with my thoughts on this matter. He knows the plans he has for me and they are good!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
I want to look as if I believe what I know to be true of Him and His hand in my life.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House http://seymourkristina.wix.
Originally published Tuesday, 03 November 2015.
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