Anticipation

One thing I have always struggled with is wishing away time.  I have always seemed to be excited about something in the future to the point where I do not fully enjoy the present. With that said, I want to make it known that I have absolutely LOVED being pregnant. Despite how much I have grown in my anxious demeanor, I still fight little battles each day.  Recently, I just couldn’t wait until we knew the sex of the baby.  Then I just couldn’t wait to feel movement in my tummy.  Now, I just can’t wait until Josh can feel Addilyn kick.  And most of all, I just can’t wait to hold her in my arms!  Although these desires are not sinful in and of themselves, I am realizing that these desires can easily become idols in my heart.

So the question is, “What do I anticipate most?” Am I focused on loving the employees of a department store more than getting registered for baby supplies? Do I spend more time thinking about the gospel or how to be a mom?  Do I talk more about Jesus or my pregnancy?  Do I long for the return of Christ more than I long to hold my little girl?  Do I have an eternal or worldly perspective?  Galatians 5:5 encourages us to eagerly wait for the Lord. As we do this we can certainly delight in blessings from the Lord.  However, we should never place more importance on the blessings than we do on the one who is pouring out the blessing.

 

Philippians 3:12-20

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.