1 Kings 17:1 – “Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve), there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.”

Last Sunday morning, as I prayed, I sensed in my spirit that the LORD was calling His church to soar like an eagle and roar like a lion.   Victory is ours for the taking!   I pray for everyone to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

During my devotional time, I heard in my spirit, “The reason many prayers are not answered is they are prayed in human hope, not divine expectation.”

I have mused on that since it came.    It was prevalent in my heart before my 7 AM Sunday broadcast.   It resurfaced during the praise and worship in church and has resurfaced multiple times.   Therefore, I know I need to reexamine my prayers, heart, and condition.  It has been with me for days!

Human hope is whimsical and fickle.   Human hope is not doggedly persistent.  Human hope is swayed by circumstances and is easily distracted.  In contrast, divine expectation is fixed, unshakeable, and filled with the anticipation of assurance.  It is the heart of faith.

Elijah, in 1 Kings, demonstrated divine expectation.  He prophesied no rain and then explicitly obeyed with a sense of knowing that drought and famine were not only imminent but present regardless of how things looked.

When he challenged the prophets of Baal, he did so with divine expectation and placed his life on the line.  When he prayed for rain, he exhibited divine expectation.  He persistently sent his servant to look for a visible manifestation.  When a cloud as tiny as the palm of the hand appeared, he instructed Ahab to rush to the city because torrential rain was coming.  His only real evidence was his divine expectation based on God’s promise!

Human hope would not have pressed in and obtained, but divine expectation would not let him stop.  How are we praying?   The evidence is in our persistence and actions.

Human hope wishes for a time almost fatalistically.  Divine expectation is so confident in the answer that it has corresponding actions as if it were already a reality.

How are we praying?   Do we pray and allow our words and minds to provide room for doubt?   Do we pray with a lack of confidence or with divine expectancy?   The bottom line is, “Do we believe God’s Word, and do we trust His character?”    If we add, “He’s sovereign and knows best,” That may indicate that our prayers are founded on human hope, not divine expectation.   He is sovereign, but He has declared He wants to give us the kingdom and has given us authority and the privilege of tapping into His limitlessness.

Challenge yourself to expect.  Open your heart to the Holy Spirit, pray God’s promises, and watch divine expectancy develop.   You can be victorious!  Why not today?  Why not soar like an eagle and roar like a lion through God’s promises and provisions?

I pray that today will be a day of soaring and roaring for you!