Two people walked into the same church service. One came in thinking, “Let’s see if anything here will move me today.” The other came in praying, “Lord, speak to me.” Same songs, same sermon, same atmosphere. But only one left with a word that shifted something in his heart. The difference wasn’t the service. It was the expectation they carried in.
Friend, when it comes to approaching God, you need to come expectant (Jeremiah 29:13). Expectation sets the posture of your heart. What you expect from God before the service starts shapes how open you are during it. Expect Him to meet you, and you will notice Him in the worship, the word, and the quiet moments (Hebrews 11:6).
Wrong expectations kill hunger (Matthew 5:6). Some people stop coming expectant because they’ve been disappointed before. “Last time, nothing happened.” But God is not limited by your last experience. If you lower your expectation to zero, you will receive exactly that. Guard your hunger by remembering He’s still the same God (Psalm 81:10).
God honours faith-filled expectations (Mark 11:24). God doesn’t respond to desperation alone, He responds to faith. When you come believing He can speak, heal, and shift things, you position yourself to receive. His expectation for you is faith, not passivity (James 1:6-7).
Prepare your heart before you arrive. You don’t walk into a meeting unprepared and expect to get the most from it (Psalm 95:6-7). The same goes for church. Settle distractions, pray on the way, and decide you’re not just attending but receiving. What you prepare for, you protect (Proverbs 4:23).
What you expect, you will pay attention to (Luke 8:18). If you expect God to speak, you will catch the line in the sermon meant for you. If you expect nothing, you will miss it. Your expectation tunes your ear. Come expecting to be changed, and you will leave better than you came (Isaiah 55:11).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria