“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ as I have been in the past.  And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ whether I live or die.  For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”
– Philippians 1:20-21 (New Living Translation)

Expectations.  As coaches, we run into them everywhere and often we fail to live up to them.  We set goals each season, often hoping to accomplish much more than many think possible.  There are so many expectations and so many disappointments when our goals are not met.

Dr. Joe Stowell, author and speaker, shared three areas where we face unmet expectations: the people around us, our situations, and the uncertain future ahead of us.  Too often our expectations set us up for disappointments.  Paul wrote about expectations while in prison.  He didn’t give up because of his circumstances and he turned his prison into his pulpit.  Though he didn’t know what his future held, Paul made it clear that his only expectation in life was to live for Christ and to make Him the center of his life.  Let me challenge you to set this single new expectation.  Whoever you are with, wherever you are, regardless of the uncertainties that lie ahead, live to magnify Christ.

Heavenly Father, you know our every need.  Help us to look beyond the people around us, our present situation and the uncertain future.  Strengthen us to live for you above all else.  Amen.