Day 01 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
Written by Jana Howerton
“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”
isaiah 26:8
HAVE AN EXPECTANT HEART
Expectant—it’s the word that most fully captures how I feel at the beginning of 21 Days of Prayer each year. Taking the time as a church to pause, quiet the background noise and intentionally set our hearts and minds towards Heaven always feels sacred, like we are standing on holy ground. And we are—we’re stepping into something weighty, holy and full of possibility.
Prayer isn’t meant to be just a routine. It’s actively cultivating a deeper relationship with God, and it’s not just individual—God is calling us, as a church, into deeper intimacy with Him. He’s inviting us to know Him, to seek Him, to be changed by Him.
Isaiah 26:8 beautifully expresses a posture of waiting on the LORD with expectancy that 21 Days of Prayer is about: “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” It’s not a passive waiting—it’s active, expectant, hopeful. It’s His people walking in obedience, longing for His presence, hungry for His glory.
Our hearts stirred not just by what God might do, but by who He is. God’s name and renown are what stir us into actively seeking His face. It’s what drives our prayers and shapes our longings.
One of the most powerful times God impressed Isaiah 26:8 on my heart was when He called our family to Lakepointe Church. It wasn’t just a move—God was drawing us into a new season, and though we didn’t know what it would look like, we knew The One leading us. It was the beginning of a new adventure—one marked not by certainty in outcomes, but by confidence in God. He has not let us down, and He won’t let you down either if you wait on Him with expectancy over these coming weeks.
As we begin, I want you to know Josh and I have been praying for you, and each day is written with you in mind. We have seen God move in unexpected, powerful ways as He’s healed hearts and bodies, opened wombs, lifted burdens, given fresh vision, and set captives free. The best part is that we know He’s not done. There is more!
PRAY
Father, open my heart to the possibilities of what you can do. Give me a heart that desires your name and your renown above all. Help me to desire a closer relationship with you, and to seek you first.
As I wait upon you with expectancy, increase my faith and boldness, and give me a heart that echoes the cry of Moses, “Show me your glory.” Father, we love you and praise you for who you are.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
