This is my favorite part of partnering together to reach our community in Jesus' name:  E--EXPECT GOD TO ACT!  After all, if we don't expect God to act, the whole process is hopeless.  If it's up to us to change other people, we're in deep weeds, because my experience is I can't even change me without God's action.  The author of the Hebrews put it this way:  "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

This is not "whistling in the dark."  This is not the power of positive thinking.  This is reaching out with the Good News of Jesus through a word or an action fully expecting God to "show up" and change a person and/or situation.  When we expect God to act in our friends' lives, or our family members' lives, we expect that the supernatural hand of God will reach into their lives and make a mark--that mark may be a physical healing.  It may be the actual conversion of their lives in Jesus' name.  It may be hundreds of different things, but the key is we expect God to act and He does.

Some folks, actually in America I would say it's MOST folks, don't believe God still acts in supernatural ways.  He's relegated to being our consciences, or a vague sense of right or wrong when we're about to do something. I've experienced the power of God in so many ways over the years that I have no doubt that He is real and that He can and will act in our lives.  From the healing of my brother's eye when he was fifteen, which was a LONG time ago, to the conversion of the most recent believer at New Life (which took place this past Sunday!) God has worked, does work, and will work!

Take a moment right now to consider:  Who do you know who needs the hand of God to touch them in a direct way right now?  Take some time and pray for them.  Pray with expectancy!  Pray for God to reach out and transform them or their situation or their heart or whatever it is that's needed.  Then ask, "Is there anything I can do in addition to praying with faith?"  if there is--DO IT!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a God who acts, a God who transforms us and who reaches into our world for our God.  Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may be more and more expectant of Your work to be accomplished among us.  Use us however You choose to bring You glory. This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.