Luke 1:37
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Have you ever wondered why it is that some people never reach their full potential? Why some live their best life, pursue their dreams, and fulfill the unique purpose God has for them and others do not? This is a question I often find myself contemplating.
While this question could be answered several different ways, I am currently reading three books (all of which I highly recommend) that I believe shed light on this in their own way.
First, in The Dream Giver, author Bruce Wilkinson made the statement, “God is not intentionally hiding your dream from you. It’s already in you. It’s already who are you are. Your opportunity is to discover it.”
So let me ask, have you discovered your dream? Have you come to terms with what the specific purpose is that God has for your life? I believe many of us all too often fall into the hum-drum routine of daily life and fail to consider the greater picture of where this is all heading. If you can’t readily answer what dream God has placed in your heart, will you purpose to discover it? As Wilkinson suggests, begin asking yourself questions such as:
What have I always been good at?
What needs do I care about most?
What do I admire most?
What makes me feel most fulfilled?
What do I love to do the most?
What have I felt called to do?
So let us understand that the first step to living our best life is to discover the dream/purpose God has placed within us.
Next, in Love Does author Bob Goff got my attention with the statement, “I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.”
Bob went on tell a crazy story about how he became the Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States all because he purposed to say yes to whatever opportunity God placed in front of him…even though he initially thought the entire situation was part of an elaborate joke! Just the same, I wonder how many of us miss out on reaching our full potential, pursuing our dreams, and fulfilling the unique purpose God has for us simply because we fail to say yes. We let our fear and insecurities take over – and then we lose out. Decide with me today to say yes to whatever opportunity God puts in your path. You never know, just ask Bob Goff, you might just become an ambassador someday!
Lastly, in Visioneering by Andy Stanley, I was struck by the comment, “Once God puts something in our hearts for us to do, we are to lock in on what it is he has called us to do. Our responsibility is to do what we know to do, and wait for him to fill in the blanks…How is God’s specialty.”
Perhaps like me you are well aware of the dream God has placed in your heart, you are willing to say yes to whatever He may place in your path, but then you get stuck on the hows. You are not sure on all the details regarding how exactly you are going to accomplish what you know God has asked of you. You begin to feel overwhelmed and incapable of making the dream a reality. If this is you, remember with me today that how is God’s specialty, not ours. The Bible assures us that with God nothing will be impossible. Continue to walk in faith, do what you can, and trust God to do the rest.
So what is the next step you need to take in reaching your full potential? Do you need to gain clarity surrounding the dream/purpose God has for you? Do you need to cast aside your fear and insecurities and purpose to say yes to whatever opportunity places in your path? Or do you need to boldly take steps of faith while trusting God with the hows?
Identify what the next step is for you, and then purpose this week to take it!
I will be praying for you my friend as you strive to reach your full potential!