by Geoff Newton, senior leader, Airedale Church

IN life I find that my expectation is framed by what takes up my thinking the most.

If I choose to let my focus be the words of Jesus, the plans He has to bring restoration to us as individuals as well as to bring restoration in the entire world, then my expectation of His goodness increases within me.

When I focus on what is going wrong, on seemingly delayed answers to prayer, or if I focus on tough circumstances, temporary setbacks, rejections and traumas, I find little expectation for good to be seen.

My prayer is one of gratitude that I do not have to be a glass half empty type of personality. I want people to be inspired and uplifted when chatting with me I don't want to suck the life out of people with negativity and sourness of speech.

I believe this reflects the heart of most followers of Jesus. We require more and more of the healing presence of Jesus in our lives, restoring our hearts that have been broken by hope delayed or hopelessness.

The Bible states that "hope deferred (delayed) makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

The cross is a tree of life to us. Through Jesus' suffering on the cross we have the deepest desire met, the desire that resonated throughout every fibre of our being. This desire is to know Father God loves us and accepts us as His children.

With this focus we can be the kind of people to build-up and encourage those around us.

We can allow God, by His spirit, to paint His image of love and mercy on the canvas of our hearts and we can see that hope, that inner image become a reality in our lifestyle and through us into the world we live in.

Happy New Year!