How does it make you feel to know someone anticipated you? Planned ahead, prepared in advance, gave thought to.  I feel valued and significant. A man will feel valued & significant when we anticipate him.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of anticipating two groups of women. For lunch, I hosted 4 ladies at my home to chat about how God is working in our discipleship groups. The food wasn’t fancy, so I set the table early in the morning. I chose the tablecloth and napkins, waffled on dishes to use, rubbed water spots off of silverware, changed my mind about glasses, put a chocolate above each plate, and added a centerpiece.  None of it was fancy, but I wanted to convey the message that I value my guests, their presence, their contribution, and their friendship. As I anticipated their arrival, my heart was prepared for them.

Anticipation is preparation

• I reflected with greater appreciation on their serving
• I gave thanks for each one and their diversity
• I celebrated God working in & thru them
• I felt grateful for resources to serve them
• I was affirmed in knowing my time & energy were being well spent
• I grew in my love for my Christian sisters
• I thought less about the details & more about the people

The anticipation prepared ME.

After I cleaned up from lunch, I went to our church building to help set up for an evening dinner for women’s ministry leaders from all over our city. Mostly, I watched a gifted sister decorate tables and set a place for each guest. We decided to use “real” plates, glasses & silverware, to decorate with the theme of HOPE. As we prepared for them, God prepared my heart to care about them, pray for them, and hope for them.

In the time we took to anticipate their coming, God prepared us to receive them.

God anticipated us. It was a man, Paul, who wrote that we are to “be imitators of God as dear children,” (Ephesians 5:1) meaning as the children of God we should act like our Father. This is the same Father who “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,” (Ephesians 1:4).  He thought, planned and prepared in advance. He did not randomly act because we showed up on His divine doorstep. Knowing that makes me feel loved, highly valued, and secure. To anticipate is to prepare.

The men in our lives would be more confident, joyful, and empowered, if they saw the women in their lives assign such great value to them that they took the time to anticipate them. Are you taking time to prepare for your guy? For each male:female relationship, it will look uniquely personal to those two.

Ways to anticipate him

• A daughter anticipates her dad coming home by bringing in the paper & putting it where he likes to unwind
• A sister anticipates her brother when she puts her makeup away from the bathroom counter or makes popcorn when he puts on a movie
• A mom anticipates her son by buying chocolate milk he likes or changing her schedule to be free to help on his big project
• A friend anticipates her friend by bringing the soda he likes to the party or asking about his big meeting
• A wife anticipates her husband when she keeps the bedroom clean, brushes her hair, wears something pretty to bed, or re-stocks his favorite coffee before it runs out

The biggest thing that gets in the way of me anticipating others is … ME.  We have to set ourselves aside to think about the needs & desires of someone else, then take time to prepare for them. Just like Jesus, planning ahead to love someone might mean we lay ourselves down in the process. Are you a woman who prepares for her guys? Are you teaching your daughters to be such a woman?

Do you need help to prepare your heart for the dad, brother, son, friend, or husband in your life? It was so fun to anticipate my lady guests yesterday, but God wants me to have a hospitable heart of anticipation for the two men right here in my home.  Anticipation is preparation. How does God want you to ANTICIPATE the guys in your life today?