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Champion athletes will tell you that their performance is largely determined by their expectations. If they expect
great things, they are much more likely to do great things.
The Babe and
Centerfield
Babe Ruth was the
home run king of major league baseball for decades. His career total of 714 home runs was unsurpassed for 40 years, until Hank Aaron broke Ruth’s record in 1975.
One of baseball’s
most memorable moments was when Ruth stepped to the plate during the 1932 World Series. After the pitcher threw a strike, Ruth held up his hand and pointed to centerfield, telling the crowd that he
was going to hit a home run and where it would land. Talk about great expectations.
After the pitcher
threw another strike, Ruth repeated the gesture toward centerfield. Ruth knocked the next pitch out of the park -- right over the centerfield fence. Ruth and the Yankees won that game and the
series.
Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose
As the 1985 season
was about to start, the legendary Pete Rose needed just 78 more hits to break Ty Cobb’s all-time record for career hits, set in 1928.
At Spring Training,
a reporter asked Rose, "How many at-bats do you think you'll need to get the 78 hits?" Without hesitation, Rose answered, "78." The reporter yelled back, "Aw, come on. You don't expect to get 78 hits
in 78 at-bats, do you?" Rose answered:
- “Every time I step up to the plate, I expect to get a hit. If I don't expect to get a hit, I have no right to step in the batter’s box in the first place! If I go up hoping to get a hit, then I probably don't have a prayer to get a hit. It is a positive expectation that has gotten me all of the hits in the
first place."
Rose went on that year to set major league baseball’s all-time record for career hits, a record which stands to this
day.
Babe Ruth and Pete Rose are
examples that it takes more than physical strength and skill to be a champion. They also had great expectations. When Ruth stepped up to the plate, he expected to knock it over the fence. When Rose
stepped to the plate, he expected to knock out another base hit.
Standing Up to a Giant
The most famous
example of all time of great expectations did not happen in baseball or in sports. It happened back in the days of ancient Israel. I’m talking of course about the shepherd boy
David.
David was young,
relatively small, and inexperienced at battle. But instead of focusing on his limitations, David envisioned what God could do through
him. When David stepped out onto the battlefield to face Goliath, he shouted,
- “This day
the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. ... Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is
the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:46-47)
David had great expectations. David had great faith. His faith
was not in himself, or his abilities, or in ideal circumstances. His faith was in God. David was able to envision the outcome with “spiritual eyes.” Everyone witnessed the almighty power of God that
day!
Greater Than We Can Imagine
I have often thought about the expectations I have in my own life. I have wanted to be a good father, a good husband, and
perform a good service to pastors. But is my expectation only to be good -- or is my expectation to be great, to be much greater than I could ever imagine? Isn’t that exactly what God has promised
us?
- “[God] is
able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Ephesians 3:20
Through the years, as I have learned to have an attitude of great expectations, the results have been amazing! Now I always try
to reach for the greatest.
Pastor, let me
reassure you that you are very important in the Kingdom of God! In the ministry it is easy to grow tired and become discouraged. The last two years have been very hard ones for most pastors. I notice
that many church leaders seem exhausted and discouraged right now.
So I want to
encourage you today. Even when you are at the end of your rope, even when great things seem impossible, it is always true that God can do great things through you. Greater things that you could ever
even imagine.
When we need a
victory, we must rely on God, who is always victorious. When we need a miracle, we must remember that God is in the miracle-working business! Many times I have seen mountains move and miracles
performed when my faith and prayers were coupled with greater expectations. It is about believing something unseen, not present yet, as if it is being done. Some people call that faith. I call it
faith with great expectations to see and dare for the impossible.
There are no
limits on what God can do except the limits we place on ourselves, by settling for less and failing to have great expectation. Ask God to increase your expectations. Dare to ask Him for the
seemingly impossible. Ask God to open your eyes to things that will be.
Pastor, thank you
for all you do for the kingdom of God. If you need to get away for a much-needed rest, to be alone with God, and to seek all he has for your ministry and personal life, please give us a call. We may
be able to help. We are here to help. Call us or email us at Pastoral Care Inc.: 918-758-4147, jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org.
Remember, we are
always here for you. May God richly bless you and your family as you endeavor to follow your call.
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