Potential Essentials

The Science.
Several meanings can be ascribed to the word Potential. Synonyms such as possible, prospective, and capability appear in any household thesaurus. Potential is most often defined in two modes: scientific and humanistic. Furthermore, there are two different types of energy in the study of chemistry, one of which is potential energy. An object that has potential energy has an impending amount of force or possible exertion. In application to humans, our potential is the capabilities we possess but have not yet tapped into.

Potent Potential.
We as humans and as Christians possess an immense amount of potential within in us, but the situations that we find ourselves are also opportunities of potential to be shown; circumstances have potential as well. In 1 Samuel 9:21-27, the truth that God sees our potential when we do not is illustrated through the story of Saul. God chose him to be King out of His divine plan although Saul doubted himself. Samuel followed God’s instructions to pour a flask of olive oil over Saul’s head and anoint him as King over Israel. It is imperative that we trust God’s decisions when evaluating the changes that he ushers into our lives. Every situation has the potential to be a divine appointment of God.

Spread the Word.
God has the ability to multiply our potential if we give him our talents and abilities without inhibition or ulterior motives. In John 6:1-13 when Jesus fed the five thousand, he accepted the young boy’s offering and multiplied his potential as a result of his selflessness. The boy saw the need and without a second thought he sacrificed his meal for the sake of the hungry masses. This aspect of God’s multiplication is not dependent on our individual amount of potential but more so the willingness in our hearts to submit our potential to His will.

Team Effort.
Our potential is not something that we have to constantly grow by ourselves. God increases our abilities to meet the need for His plan to be done. Philippians 1:6 supplants this truth by saying, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Working toward greater potential can be a difficult task when satisfaction creeps in. Complacency in growth is detrimental the body of Christ. Philippians 3:12 provides a healthy template for the attitude we should keep concerning our potential and the goals we set for ourselves: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Me.
There is great emphasis on our potential as believers here on earth however our true potential is in heaven. In my life, I regard my potential as something very valuable. Not a day goes by that I do not dream of the greatness that God has for my life. Potential is an exciting concept and to think that God has orchestrated an amazing outcome of faith and success for our lives is incredible. The logical step to follow His plan is to accept the fact that we have greatness within through Jesus while at the same time humbling ourselves to allow His complete control of our potential.