A Watched Pot

Posted on August 28, 2007
Filed Under Provision, Fulfillment, Faith |

I once heard Oprah say that she lives without expectations. The cynical part of me thought, of course you don’t, you can have anything you desire. Instantly I caught myself, quickly realizing money does necessary mean peace, happiness, love and all the eternal qualities. Truthfully, I simply couldn’t relate to her statement. As spiritual as I may consider myself I am expectation driven. On the surface this may seem like a positive attribute. I expect God to show up, keeping His promise. I expect good things to unfold in my life. I expect my desires and dreams to manifest according to the effort and energy I give them; however, expectation has a way of stealing my peace. Much like the kid in a candy store whose mother says no, you can’t have that candy today. To get her way she begins crying, even screaming, because she expects to win.

Yesterday I shared how I’m in a season of discontent. I compared it to being in labor and having a strong desire to push before it’s time. But as I thought about my discontent more throughout the day, I realized much of it is connected to expecting things to happen according to my clock. So I asked myself, can I live without expectations? What would it feel like to do what I do simply because I’m called to it, and I love it. Freedom!

The nature of expectation in and of itself implies lack or wanting. A life without expectation suggests a deep and profound trust, a knowing that what is desired already is. Christ said pray believing we have already received. The funny thing is if you already have, there is no expectation of getting. You can’t get what you already have. Believing you already possess the thing desired is tricky, at least for me. There is a security, a confidence, an inner power that comes in believing we already have, I’d imagine.

My grandma would say, “Sweetie, a watched pot never boils.” I never understood what she meant and would ask her to explain. “You’ll understand one day”, she’d say, and I guess today is the day.

My intention is to do what I do purely because I love doing it, and because I’m called and purposed by God. It is my intention to express my love for God and my enthusiasm for giving my gifts in all that I do. And I intend to do so with one true pure expectation, to know God more intimately. Knowing God more intimately is an expectation I’m certain will be fulfilled.

Today begin praying believing you already have received. Allow the promise of God to take root deep in your soul. And go about your life giving your gifts freely because you’ll shrivel up and die if you don’t. ☺

Matthew 6:33:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Peace and Blessings,

Monique Ruffin-James