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All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

1 Peter 1:3 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.1.3.NLT

Growing up I read a classic book titled Great Expectations. It was a story of a young man living in a difficult time. The young man was filled with potential and drive, and yet just as it appeared he would really break through, he or others sabotaged his life. All he was left with was “great expectations” that never came to pass.

So many people live as the young man in this epic story of discouragement and failure.

In complete contrast, God invites us to live in an epic story of encouragement with great expectation. Through Jesus Christ we have been born again with a new life and a new way to live. God did something for us that we could not do on our own. He restored us to full relationship with Him.

We have the opportunity to be in relationship with God. We are connected to incredible qualities and unfathomable capacities of love, forgiveness, truth, kindness, justice, compassion, grace, mercy, faith, and hope.

Wisdom is provided to endure the challenges we face. Where we fail (and we do fail), Jesus is there to restore and establish us in this new life. The Holy Spirit leads, inspires, comforts and guides us into all truth.

We know forgiveness. We are not held hostage for our failures. We are set free to live and love in ways that reveal Jesus to others.

Yes, we live a life of great expectation because of God and His great mercy.

Encouragement:  Focus on the great expectation we have because of God’s amazing work in our lives. Don’t dwell on the discouragement brought about by our own mistakes and failures. Lean into the encouraging life we have through Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You for giving us a life filled with expectation because of who You are and what You have done. Thank You Jesus for paying a price, that if I tried to pay it, would only be marked by my death. You paid my price with Your death and resurrected life. I am free. Thank You Holy Spirit for guiding me into truth, sharing wisdom, and providing comfort in hardship. What an encouraging life I have in You. Today I live in great expectation because of who You are and what You are doing in me.

 In Jesus name I pray, Amen

-Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center