My Jesus Story

By Jenni Ingram
Member, First Baptist Church, Gantt

Expectations can motivate you, excite you or paralyze you. Dreaming big is never a bad thing but if you let those dreams become an idol for you, that is bad. Further, if you prepare your dreams outside of God’s will, you’d better be prepared for a letdown.

I have frequently heard the saying, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.” How can you know God’s will for your life? It’s really very simple. Note that I said “simple,” not “easy.” Try these steps as a guideline:

• Repent from your sins (Acts 2:38)

• Accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation (Acts 4:12)

• Attend a Bible-teaching church (Col. 1:24)

• Foster a relationship with Him by daily praise, repentance, supplication, study and prayer

• Ask for His will, guidance and plan.

Remember this promise from Matthew 21:21–22: “Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’”

I personally have had many expectations and dreams in my life. God has graciously granted me several of them but many He has refused. I have come up against seemingly impenetrable barriers, I have had many crises of faith and I have had days when I just didn’t feel as if God still loved me. I have come to realize that these were all tactics of the enemy and were lies. I was reminded that Satan has already been defeated and Jesus has won the complete victory on our behalf. Don’t believe the lies from our mortal enemy. Lean on Jesus.