21st-27th July 2025
We all live with expectations of ourselves, of others and, often, even of God. Some of us expect too much and as a result we can live in a world that seems to constantly disappoint. Whilst others can expect too little and miss out on the abundant life that God longs for us to understand and experience. I wonder where you are as you read this prayer diary.
Expectations can shape how we see life, how we treat people, and how we relate to the reality of a loving heavenly Father who knows us and seeks a deep and meaningful relationship with us. I have often wondered and, to be honest, accepted that my expectations of God are sadly too small!
As a church family we spent time studying the book of Ephesians together and among many of the amazing truths we reflected on, the one in Ephesians 3:20 has stuck with me, especially when I have turned to God in prayer. Paul writes:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
This verse is both a promise and a challenge. It reminds us that God operates on a level beyond our seeming limitations. His plans are better, his timings wiser, and his power far greater than what we could ever imagine.
I think, if we are honest with ourselves, we often choose to box God into what we think is possible because then we feel we will avoid disappointment if things do not turn out the way we hoped and prayed for. Yet God, in his own compassionate, gracious way, specialises so often in breaking wide open those boxes that we choose to place him in.
If we think of some of the stories in God’s word, we get an insight into this truth. Consider Abraham, who expected an heir but received nations. Or Moses, who wanted freedom for his people and saw the sea part. Or Mary, who expected to be an ordinary girl and became the mother of the Saviour … and we elaborate this thought with so many other names from the bible.
God did not just meet their expectations; he chose to exceed them in miraculous ways to show them who he really was. And yet, despite reading these words and knowing the reality of the truths they affirm, in our own lives we can still grow discouraged when things do not turn out the way we expected. The reality is that life is challenging, it is full of unexpected circumstances, we often travel along roads we did not choose or desire to travel.
Perhaps we have prayed for healing and the illness remains, the healing as we desired did not occur. We hoped for a breakthrough, for God to do the miraculous but the door stayed closed and the miracle we had hoped for never arrived. In those moments, it is easy to feel like God has not come through for us, we struggle to understand his purposes and, if we are honest, trusting him is a real challenge because of our disappointment.
But what if, what if, God is still working, he is working to a different timetable, he is working in ways that we do not see or understand? I suppose what I’m trying to express is that God’s ways are not always our ways and how he exceeds our expectations is not necessarily in the way we expected or fully understand, yet we know that he is working for our good and for his glory, although at times we find that hard to see.
Sometimes it is often in the deep peace that we sense and have during trials, during disappointments, that reminds us he is indeed with us. Sometimes it is the growth he nurtures within us in terms of how close we sense his presence through the suffering we endure. Sometimes it is even in the delay that we realise he is working and something better than we dared to imagine or ask is in the process of unfolding before our eyes.
These thoughts are really an invitation to allow our faith to be expanded, to encourage us to lift our eyes from what we expect and to open our hearts to what God in his goodness and love has planned for us.
As we journey through these next seven days, maybe we could ask ourselves: Am I limiting what God can do in my life because I expect too little? What would it look like to trust him for more, not just materially, but spiritually, relationally and eternally?
Expecting great things from God should really be our default position because of who he is, the God who does abundantly more than we can ever ask or think.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8–9
Heavenly Father, I confess that I sometimes expect you to work within my logic, to do what I think is best, to answer prayer in the way I want it to be answered. Help me to trust your greater wisdom, help me not to lean on my own understanding but rather to acknowledge you and lean into your word. Teach me to rest in the truth that your ways are right and just even when I do not fully understand them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
TUESDAY
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Heavenly Father, thank you for having a plan for my life. I find such comfort to know that all my days have been accounted for before any of them come to pass. Even when things feel uncertain to me, when I cannot see clearly the way to go, the decision to make, help me to trust that you are working for my good and that your future for me is full of hope. I trust you completely. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
Heavenly Father, I find this truth hard to grasp in the midst of the challenges I often find myself navigating but I trust in you and know that you are for me and not against me, that you are at work in every situation. Remind me that no moment in life is ever wasted, that there is purpose and reason. Help me to see your hand at work, especially in the hard things of life. Help me to walk by faith, holding on to the truth of your word and not making decisions based on what I see around me. Help me, Father, I pray. Amen.
THURSDAY
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5–6
Heavenly Father, I choose today to trust you fully. To love you with all my heart and mind and strength. Help me not to rely on my own understanding, but rather to choose to acknowledge you in every part of my life and, as I do, that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all my ways. Amen.
FRIDAY
“For no word from God will ever fail.”
Luke 1:37
Heavenly Father, help me to believe that these words are true. That you are a faithful God who promises to be with me and who says his word can be trusted and will never fail or return void. Give me the faith to believe what you have said in your word, even when circumstances make that hard. Help me to hold on to your promises with confidence. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
SATURDAY
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Psalm 23:5
Heavenly Father, thank you for overflowing my life with your goodness. Even in the most difficult of times, help me to see the table you have prepared for me and to rest in your abundant grace. Thank you for how you have demonstrated your love towards me and how you constantly sustain and help me. I love you Father. Amen.
SUNDAY
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”
Ephesians 3:20
Heavenly Father, I ask that you increase my expectations, that you are capable and are doing more than I can ever comprehend or understand. Help me to come into your presence not just on a Sunday but every day with the expectation that I will meet with you and that you are changing me into the person you want me to be. Help me to be open to your change and transforming power as you seek to renew my mind by giving me a greater awareness of who you really are. Stretch my vision and help me to love boldly for you, trusting that you can do immeasurably more than I can ever ask or imagine. Praise be to your name. Amen.