Full Potential Use

by Michelle E. Georgiana

My husband and I recently purchased new phones as our contracts were renewed and our last phones were truly at the end of their life span.  As soon as we came home from the store, we spent countless time trying to figure out how to "use" the phone.  What are applications that we want, didn't want, how to install, how to uninstall, etc.  Honestly, it has been quite an adventure learning how to use the phone.  Even a few weeks have past and I realize that I can't even use my phone to its FULL POTENTIAL USE, because I don't even really know what that is!  I know that this phone is capable of doing MORE than I can even imagine, but I am momentarily satisfied with the limited use I can do with it.

As I was looking at my phone and thinking about the last few weeks of learning, adjusting, and discovering the capabilities of this phone, I realized that can be what our Christian life is like.  When we first entered into a relationship with Jesus, we began to learn new ways of thinking and acting.  We tapped into the beginnings of a new life and a transformed understanding of living a life for Jesus.  Even as time passed, we would bump into a new teaching or meet a new Christian who's model showed us a new "application" for our life.  It was in that moment that we realized that we could do more than we had previously thought.  We were content with what we had already gained, but now saw a new way, whether being an improvement of an old way or something new; we could now utilize this in our everyday life.

We have to keep in the forefront of our minds, that we were made for more than just existing.  We were created for more than just figuring out the basics.  We are bundles of FULL POTENTIAL.  If we all could grasp the reality that our potential is greater than we ever thought possible for ourselves and we began to act on that realization by seeking the Lord, seeking his Word, seeking His ways, seeking truths, crucifying the flesh, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide, taking dormant talents and awakening them from hibernation.... replacing doubt with belief - can you imagine the fireworks that would rock our world?  God's people, created in his image, to max out their potential levels would be explosive.

We are our own worst enemy - mentally.  We come to conclusions that we aren't capable, because of our lack of education or socio-economic status, etc.  We limit ourselves because we think no one else would care what we have to say or others may deem that idea as not relevant.  We allow fear of failure to keep us from moving forward, when the truth is this ---- all your failures lead to your success.  Failure has become this idea that if my plan fails, I am a failure.  That is a twisted truth!  The plan may fail, but that isn't a reflection of who we are...no, my friend, it means that plan didn't work that particular time.  It needs refined, rethought and then tried again.  That is where full potential, success looms, in the midst of our failures when we buckle up and say I am going to figure this thing (aka: phone) out and realize all that it can do and work to meet it!

We are all phones - in a sense.  We all have potential that soars beyond what we have ever thought capable of ourself.  We need to start accessing applications in our heart and mind so that we can become a firework, one that isn't just meeting basic use, but full potential.  Remember, we were created in the image of God.  Do we think him limitless, lacking and not capable of more than we ever imagined?  I don't think so.

Do you remember Thomas Edison?  The inventor of the light bulb.  Listen to this:
As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."


Let's take this mindset that Edison had... it wasn't 1000 failures, rather 1,000 steps.  Aren't you glad that he did?  Your potential is just as great - all you have to do is try, and try again.  "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."~ Confucius


Remember, God made you.  He knows you inside and out and the number of hairs located on her highlighted head. (Luke 12:7)  He knows all that you are capable of doing.  Commit your ways to him and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)  He will guide and lead you.  Let him have all your ideas and the brainstorms that went into them, then let him give you His ideas so that his purpose may prevail. (Proverbs 19:21)  Then take action, be active and seek his word, seek Him so that you aren't just in basic function mode, but are in your full potential zone!