Organizing the Inside – Day 170 What Are You Expecting?

February 20, 2012 at 1:00 pm · Filed under Encouragement, Organizing, Simplicity, Wisdom, Women's Ministry

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. ~Psalm 62:5

Lowering your expectation to zero is best,
unless that expectation is from God. When we look to our own abilities we are bound to end up disappointed and frustrated. Have you ever taken on a huge project with great anticipation of what it would be like when you finished? Perhaps a recent house cleaning or organizing project was your latest venture. Did you finish it with great success, or did you fail to complete it? Maybe you forgot to include God in your plans.  I’ve seen many disheartened women who began organizing projects without the will or right resources to finish. One woman started her closet organizing project by pulling everything out and made huge piles of clothing on the floor. Thrilled that her long-awaited project was finally underway; she was so excited to get started that she failed to make plans. She ended up completely overwhelmed with an empty closet, and a floor filled with piles of clothes, shoes and accessories. She made such a mess that she could no longer walk to the other side of the room; she became discouraged and gave up. Although she started her project with great enthusiasm, she never took time to plan and pray.

Realistic expectations always include God.
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9 We must begin our day, or any project by first recognizing how God fits into our plans. This way we avoid causing ourselves unnecessary stress and anxiety. God is our strength, our enthusiasm, our wisdom our hope for a good outcome. If we don’t include Him from the start we are destined to fail. Take time to count the cost before beginning your project. Pray before, during and after completion. Consider the variables you know about and try to anticipate how much time, resources and commitment your project will take. Once you’ve made choices according to what God wants, you can place your expectations totally in Him. Whether you make a mistake, or you take on more than you could handle on your own, God is there to pull you through. Avoid the temptation that comes with feeling anxious about getting started. Sometimes anxiety will make you rush without carefully weighing a matter.

The next time you are ready to take on a new challenge here are three things to remember:

1. Pray first!
2. Plan wisely by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.
3. Expect God to help you succeed.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
Also read Philippians 4:6-7

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