Anticipation

ANTICIPATION

by HELEN STEINER RICE



GOD GIVES US A POWER WE SELDOM EMPLOY,
FOR WE'RE SO UNAWARE IT IS FILLED WITH SUCH JOY.
THE GIFT THAT GOD GIVES US IS ANTICIPATION,
WHICH WE CAN FULFILL WITH SINCERE EXPECTATION.
FOR THERE'S POWER IN BELIEF WHEN WE THINK WE WILL FIND
JOY FOR THE HEART AND PEACE FOR THE MIND.
AND BELIEVING THE DAY WILL BRING A SURPRISE
IS NOT ONLY PLEASANT BUT SURPRISINGLY WISE.
FOR WE OPEN THE DOOR TO LET JOY WALK THROUGH
WHEN WE LEARN TO EXPECT THE BEST AND MOST TOO,
AND BELIEVING WE'LL FIND A HAPPY SURPRISE
MAKES REALITY OUT OF A FANCIED SURMISE.





"BUT FOR YOU WHO FEAR MY NAME THE SUN OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL RISE, WITH HEALING
IN ITS WINGS. YOU SHALL GO FORTH LEAPING
LIKE CALVES FROM THE STALL."



MALACHI 4:2







O LORD OF HOSTS,
HOW BLESSED IS THE MAN
WHO TRUSTS IN THEE!



PSALM 84:12
NAS



RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE ARE THE
FOUNDATIONS OF YOUR THRONE;
LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS GO BEFORE YOU.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNED TO
ACCLAIM YOU, WHO WALK IN THE LIGHT OF
YOUR PRESENCE, O LORD.
THEY REJOICE IN YOUR NAME ALL DAY LONG;
THEY EXULT IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.



PSALM 89:14-16
NIV



BUT I WILL NEVER STOP LOVING HIM,
NOR LET MY PROMISE TO HIM FAIL.
NO, I WILL NOT BREAK MY COVENANT;
I WILL NOT TAKE BACK A SINGLE WORD I SAID.



PSALM 89:33-34
NLT



FAITHFULNESS WILL SPRING UP FROM THE GROUND, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL LOOK DOWN FROM THE SKY.



PSALM 85:11
NRSV



HE RAINED DOWN ON THEM MANNA TO EAT,
AND GAVE THEM THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN.



PSALM 78:24
NRSV



WHEN THEY REACH DRY VALLEY,
SPRINGS START FLOWING,
AND THE AUTUMN RAIN FILLS IT
WITH POOLS OF WATER.
YOUR PEOPLE GROW STRONGER,
AND YOU, THE GOD OF GODS,
WILL BE SEEN IN ZION.



PSALM 84:6-7
CEV



FOR THOU ART THE GLORY OF THEIR STRENGTH:
AND IN THY FAVOUR OUR HORN SHALL BE EXALTED.
FOR THE LORD IS OUR DEFENCE; AND THE HOLY
ONE OF ISRAEL IS OUR KING.



PSALM 89:17-18
KJV



THE LORD HIMSELF WATCHES OVER YOU!
THE LORD STANDS BESIDE YOU AS YOUR
PROTECTIVE SHADE. THE SUN WILL NOT
HURT YOU BY DAY, NOR THE MOON AT NIGHT.
THE LORD KEEPS YOU FROM ALL EVIL
AND PRESERVES YOUR LIFE.



PSALM 121;5-7
NLT