Have you ever read an expression of words that seemed to capture meaning and emotion, while offering a visual image, that reached deep inside of you and touched you at the core of your soul? That might be a slight over exaggeration but I’m not sure how else to articulate the way that God uses the written word, whether through Scripture or talented writers, to whisper into my life. Such a moment occurred this week when my eyes fell onto the phrase Tiptoes of Expectation in Jentezen Franklin’s Acres of Diamonds. Even more ironic is that I was reading the book because of another phrase he used during a church message, Let Down Your Bucket. For now, let me see if I can offer an explanation of the first phrase and save the second for another post.

John C. Maxwell says, “Words are the currency of ideas and have the power to change the world.” While the phrase Tiptoes of Expectation may not change the world for the better today, it did communicate something powerful to me this week by asking me to shift my mindset, self-talk, or whatever term you prefer to use, that guides your perception of life. Reading this expression forced me, once again, to consider how often I allow myself to become “anchored to the wrong things in life. Busy schedules. Material success.” Professional achievement. The world’s view of what life should look like. The list could go on and on; but when I am challenged to not place a human-sized measure of success onto a God-ordained opportunity to flourish, my posture travels from feet flat on the ground to Tiptoes of Expectation.

As those of us in academia find a new term underway, there should be a posture of Tiptoes of Expectation for how God might use this new season for influence and impact. As friends pray for where God desires to locate their ministry, their desperate pleas for discernment hopefully includes waiting on Tiptoes of Expectation for where God is cultivating a field ripe for their gifts and talents. Franklin reminds us, “When you are going through a tough season [transition], you will hear a voice in your head constantly telling you to give up. Trying to convince you that you won’t make it, pushing you to quit… meditate on God’s Word day and night. In the Hebrew, the word meditate means to ‘utter or speak’—in other words, self-talk. You are supposed to self-talk the Word of God through your tough seasons.” So, rather than allow the enemy to use negative thoughts, refocus your attention on Him and instead rise up on Tiptoes of Expectation for what is to come.

Consider a time in your past when you anxiously anticipated something that was about to occur. For me, it is as simple as dreaming of the next adventure to a new destination that conjures up excitement and lifts me up onto Tiptoes of Expectation. Or for another scenario, and one of the reasons working with children is so entertaining, think of a time when you witnessed a toddler becoming secure in walking. Talk about Tiptoes of Expectation! They view a whole new world within the grasp of their chubby little hands as their reach just expanded by a few feet.

So, why is it such a struggle to allow this sense of anticipation to cascade over us every day, especially when we serve a God whose Audacious Imaginations can take us farther than we could ever dream? “What we want to do or have happen in our lives should always be overshadowed by who we want to be in Christ. Our greatest blessing is not our gifting, our talent, our successes or our dreams coming true. Our greatest blessing is to know Jesus and to be known by Him. Yes, victory and success will come if you follow the Lord,” shares Franklin. There is no logical explanation for why we should not be postured on Tiptoes of Expectation each and every day.

In what areas of your life have you experienced God’s touch through words? Are there areas of your life where God is asking you to rise up onto Tiptoes of Expectation for what is coming next? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

References:

Franklin, J. (2020). Acres of diamonds: Discovering God’s best right where you are. Chosen Books.

Maxwell, J.C. (2010). Everyone communications few connect: What the most effective people do differently. Thomas Nelson.