RELEASING YOUR POTENTIAL

This morning I listened to another MP3 in Erwin McManus’s series titled “Vital Signs.” Today’s message was on “Releasing Your Potential.”

Great stuff!

Here’s the reality: there is extraordinary potential in every human being. There are talents and gifts that we can’t take any credit for… To use the words of one somewhat controversial radio personality, we all have “talent on loan from God.”

Unfortunately, most of us never live up to our God-given potential. Most of us die without having ever become what God had in mind when He created us.

One of my favorite books is by John Ortberg. The book is titled, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.” It is an incredible book. I highly recommend it.

In the book, Ortberg makes this statement. I read it right after the book was first released. It has continued to haunt me ever since:

“I am disappointed with myself. I am disappointed now so much with particular things I have done as with aspects of who I have become. I have a nagging sense that all is not as it should be…”

Ortberg describes some of his disappointment, until he finally reaches this conclusion:

"Where does my disappointment come from? …my failure to be the person God had in mind when he created me."

Do you ever feel like that? Do you ever feel like you’re not tapping the potential God placed in you, that you’re just sort of aimlessly meandering through life?

Part of this frustration and disappointment is a direct result of the fall. According to Genesis 3, one of the immediate consequences of our sin was frustration and futility regarding our work.

Don’t misunderstand! Work was never a result of the fall. God designed us to work. Part of what it means to be “human” is to work. But the fall brought a nagging sense of frustration and futility when it comes to work. (Genesis 3:17)

Obviously, part of what God wants to redeem is our work.

This morning, McManus gave four really helpful and simple steps for discovering and unleashing our God-given potential.

If you’ve never listened to McManus, make it point to check out his podcast on I-tunes.

So, how do I discover and unleash my God-given potential?

1. Work Hard.

This is the “non-sexy” reality of unleashing our potential. It’s not “easy” to discover and unleash our potential. It’s going to require hard work.

Proverbs 14:23 (NIV), All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

You can talk and talk and talk about what you’re going to do; but talk, in and of itself, doesn’t produce results. You’re going to have to take action.

Greatness almost always comes as result of hard work. Unfortunately, we live in a world that regularly puts “greatness” on display, but never allows us to see the process that led to the development of greatness.

Greatness requires hard work.

Colossians 3:23 (NIV), Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…


2. Work Hard at What Comes “Easy.”

Working hard is a matter of discipline, diligence and devotion. But working hard at what comes “easy” is a matter of passion, talent and giftedness.

If you’re going to release your potential you need to discover your giftedness and passion and work in alignment with the way God has wired you up.

So, what invigorates you even while you’re working at it? What are you gifted to do? What comes natural to you?

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes of all time… But think about the difference between Jordan’s effectiveness as a basketball player, and Jordan’s effectiveness as a baseball player… Huge!

As a basketball player Jordan’s accomplishments are legendary: 5 MVP’s, 10 All-NBA First Team designations, 14 NBA All Star appearances, 3 All Star MVP’s, 10 scoring titles, 6 Finals MVP’s, and a total of 6 NBA Championships… Incredible! Some say he’s the best basketball player in history.

But as a baseball player, even though Jordan was a gifted athlete, he never really got off first base. In fact, he rarely made it to first base…

It’s not enough just to work hard; you’ve got to work hard at what comes “easy.” Work hard in the area of your giftedness.


3. Work Hard Until Its Hardly Work.

In other words, keep developing your talents, skills and abilities…

Most gifted musicians don’t just sit down at a piano and have instant mastery over the keyboard… Even though they’re gifted they have to work at playing scales and sight-reading, until that kind of stuff becomes second nature…

It’s the same in life; we need to work hard in the area of our giftedness until our work becomes natural and free flowing…


4. Work Hard At What Matters Most.

Don’t’ throw away your giftedness and passion on stuff that doesn’t really matter.


Erwin shared a great example from the Bible that basically wraps up all four principles and ideas…

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV), One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.


The rest is really history…

So, how are you doing on this one? Are you disappointed that maybe you haven’t become all that God had in mind when He created you? Do you work hard? Do you work hard at what comes easy? Do you work hard until it’s hardly work? And, are you working hard for what matters most?