Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest-if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

Expectancy! I love the sound of that word. It brings with it an attitude of hope and the opportunity of something new. It reminds me of the time my family and I went to Petit Jean Mountain. I had a great day planned for my family which included a hike to an overlook of a beautiful waterfall. My sons, at that time, were still fairly young and the idea of this adventure was very exciting to them. They could hardly wait to head out; a day filled with adventure, family time, and of course, seeing the incredible waterfall. So we gathered up our gear, packed a lunch and off we went with great expectancy! We hiked for what seems like hours (aprox. 30 minutes) before taking a break. Approximately halfway to our goal, my two sons, the weary adventurers, plop down on a rock to enjoy their third drink and some lunch.
Interestingly, after they are full and comfortable, these adventurous hikers decide they would rather continue forward toward our goal. It isn’t because they aren’t able; it isn’t because the climb is too difficult. Their reluctance to continue is simply because they are satisfied with where they are. They lose their drive to excel, to explore new horizons, to experience a vista that is breath-taking beyond their imagination. They have tasted a bit of success, and they think, “This is good enough.”
Many times, we do something similar. We set a goal to break a bad habit, to lose weight, to start a new business, to pay off debt. At first, we’re so excited! We are fired up and we go after it! But over time, we get lazy; we get complacent; we lose our attitude of expectancy. Maybe we see a little improvement, but then we get comfortable right where we are. Where we are may not be bad, but we know it’s not where we are supposed to be. We’re not stretching our faith. We are not pursuing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts.
“Well, Paul, I’m doing pretty well with my goal,” one man said to me. “I used to smoke three packs of cigarettes a day, and now I smoke only one.” Another person said, “I used to be fifty pounds overweight, but I’ve lost ten pounds recently.” “I am happy for you,” I told these individuals. “That’s a good start, and it took some real effort to get where you are. But don’t get comfortable. Don’t be satisfied with a little improvement. Expect God’s best!”
Dare to step out of your comfort zone today. Keep pursuing and keep expecting more. Believe that your dreams are going to come to pass.
This doesn’t come easily. People who see their dreams come to pass are people who have resolve; people who refuse to settle somewhere along the way. Look yourself in the mirror today and say, “I’m not going to settle for mediocrity. I’m going to trust God to help me expand my horizons and keep believing for what He has for me.”
I want to challenge you today. Get up! Stir up your expectancy level! Say to yourself, “I’m going to make it all the way to my waterfall!”

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