The Baltimore Ravens continue to have a remarkable season. Beating the solid Buffalo Bills on Sunday, they've proven they can win in multiple ways and in different environments.
Although they clinched a playoff spot yesterday, their team has even greater goals. Head coach John Harbaugh said, "I tried to make a big deal about it in the locker room, and the guys kind of gave me a smattering of applause. They expected that; I think they've earned the right to expect that."
Apparently, the Ravens knew how good they were and were confident that their team would be strong enough to be in the playoff picture.
However, that wasn’t necessarily the case for the numerous analysts who predicted early on that the Browns and Steelers would be ahead of the Ravens in the AFC North.
With only six teams in each conference making the playoffs, teams must play with confidence and expectancy as they pursue their playoff hopes. The Ravens have done so and are expecting to go even further now that they’ve secured a spot.
There's an element of this mindset that we must implement into our prayer life and faith in God. The sentiments from John Harbaugh ring true when it comes to our perspective as followers of Jesus: “They expected that; I think they’ve earned the right to expect that.”
Just as the Ravens play with expectancy, we can pray with expectancy. Each day we can view our situations and challenges with confidence and expectancy because we serve a powerful God.
We can boldly expect Him to answer our prayers according to His will...to deliver us...to provide what we need...and to meet us right where we are.
When we surrender and place our hope and faith in Jesus, we "earn that right" as children of God. We don't earn it based on our own merit, but because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Because we know Him and follow Him, we can absolutely expect Him to move and orchestrate the details in our lives, and demonstrate His goodness and faithfulness.
So when we pray, we can approach Him with expectancy as we're told in 1 John 5:14 (AMP): "This is the confidence which we have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
I also love what the footnote says for this verse: “Confident, abiding faith combined with God’s power can produce amazing results if the request is in harmony with God’s will.”
So when things in life look bleak, when others are telling us there's no way, and when we feel like we’ve waited too long, let’s continue to pray and trust with confidence and expectancy in our all-powerful God.
Let’s take the words of Jesus seriously in Mark 11:22-24 (AMP): "Jesus replied, 'Have faith in God . I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart , but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him .
'For this reason, I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer , believe that you have received them, and they will be given to you.'”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I trust in You and Your will. Thank you that I can come before You with boldness, confidence, and expectancy. I know You are able and I know Your plan is best. I pray that my heart would be aligned with You and I thank you in advance for what You’re going to do in my life next! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What is causing you to question God or challenge your faith right now as you pray?
How can you pray with expectancy and confidence?
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