Discovering
Purpose and Maximizing Potential
: By Ateli Patrick
God has placed a hunger for purpose and meaning in the
heart of every man, and this is especially the case in the church, where the
pursuit of purpose is highly placed amongst our core value. (Heavenly Consciousness)
This is partly because God does not reveal the
fullness of an individual’s purpose in a go (Deut. 29:29); though hints and perception
exist, it is often a lifelong journey of learning,
growth and discovery.
Still, God does not leave us blinded along this
journey, and the road to purpose is usually littered with signposts in the form
of opportunities. For He knows the plans He has for us (Jer 29:11)
In reference to Matt 25: 14 - 30, God is in the business of recruitment. He is constantly looking
for people to partner with, people to act as vessels through which He can
accomplish His work on earth. The purpose of these individuals is found in
their partnership with God: the plan, and its glory, belongs to Him; the
outworking, and its resulting promotion, is His gift to His partners.
Throughout
the bible we all saw and read stories of men and women whose lives were filled
with purpose. The advantage that we have is being able to know the end of their
stories and that poses as advantage for us to be wiser.
This
however, takes us to the topic- How do we identify opportunities for maximising
potential specifically God-given ones?
Eight
(8) Principle ways for Maximizing Your Potential - 1
Cor 12:11-13
The
gift we have been given is our passion, the things we love to do or
perhaps the thing that we can do but at times don’t feel capable of.
1
Quest for potential(s) – This is through “self believe” – Phil 4:13, there must be a
conviction right from the inner mind; remember as a man thinketh in his heart,
so he’s; the heart must be re-born to embrace new beginning – 2 Cor 5:17.
This simply means, allowing fresh thought flow.
2
Remember that, there’s no right /wrong way to think – the
reason why others try to make you feel inferior when you voice opinions and
ideas is because they wish they had had the idea and courage to speak-up.
3
Despise not a
little beginning – Job 8:7 many of us workers really want to make it big but we
fail to realise that greatness don’t just appear that way, it starts from a
point. The question now – where is your starting point? Interaction moment -..........ans Matt 6:33
4
Faithfulness/ Diligent in little – Luke 16:10; Luke 19:17, everyone has potential, God expect you to be faithful about what he have shown you, and
he will give you more. No matter whom you are, you have the potential to be
something great or do something great. You might not even realise what that
talent is yet. Or it may appear impossible to achieve. Go to Him in prayer, God
is just waiting for you to make a move. 2 Thes 3:3
– “the lord is faithful; he will establish you against the evil one” –
though it may look challenging properly storming into your potential/gift but like
He said, will establish you against the various options.
5
Overcoming lost opportunities – Rev. 2: 10 Failure
stops a lot of people. Failure can be such a devastating experience for some people;
they just give up and never try again. There are many famous people who have
failed several times, but never gave up e.g. Thomas Edison (creator of bulb),
Edison wasn’t the first on the list of the inventor, and they had been over 20 persons
quoted by scientists who attempted but he claimed the glory today because of
three factors:
A)
Introduced effective
incandescent material
B)
A higher vacuum than
others were able to achieve and
C)
High resistance that made power distribution
from a centralized source economically viable.
6
Avoid Procrastination Proverbs
13:4 says ‘Lazy people
want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper’. Many people
start things but never finish. If you simply sit on your dreams, you will need
a good reason on judgment day to justify why you never used it. Everyone who
has had a dream has received a negative comment at some point or the other, if
you believe in your dream, start the process and pray that God opens doors and
brings people who can help you move your dream to the next level. However, will let us have this in mind that
successful people have no reason to apologise.
7
Seek Mentors – Prov 12:15
Surround yourself with people who will encourage you.
If you’re among people who don’t have a good word to say or can’t lift you up
when you’re down or drained your energy, quit
now. Spend your time with positive people who encourage you and pick you up
when times are rough. Mentors, also understand that as mentees
run after you for one thing or the other, make yourself available: as your
experience will not just wax but there’s a heavenly blessing attached – James 5:19-20
8
The outcome of the gift must glorify God first Your spiritual gift, your passion, your purpose in
life should not be about getting fame; it should be to glorify God. We excel in
our gifts and talents by the grace of God, if you’re not aware of this grace;
you will always think that you are the one that is able to do it by yourself.
Top
Tips for Maximising your Potential
(1) Never think or speak
negatively about yourself; that puts you in disagreement with God.
(2)
Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage yourself, for much
of the time nobody else will.
(3) Don't compare yourself to
anybody else. You're unique, one of a kind, an original. So don't settle for
being a copy.
(4)
Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Remember, God lives in you!
(5) Find what you like to do, do
well, and strive to do it with excellence.
(6)
Have the courage to be different. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.
(7) Learn to handle criticism.
Let it develop you instead of discourage you.
(8)
Determine your own worth instead of letting others do it for you. They'll
short-change you!
(9) Keep your shortcomings in
perspective - you're still a work in progress.
(10)
“Circumstances and crises are God’s tools to move you into your purpose and the
maximizing of your potential.”
(11) Leader is not a right, but
it is a privilege given by the followers.”
(12)
There is nothing as powerful as an IDEA. Everything created began as an idea.
Ideas created and control the world. Pursue divine ideas.”
(13) Your existence is evidence
that this generation needs something that your life contains.”
(14)
Purpose is when you know and understand what you were born to accomplish.
Vision is when you see it in your mind and begin to imagine it.”
(15) “The greatness of a man is
measured by the way he treats the little man. Compassion for the weak is a sign
of greatness.”
(16)
focus daily on your greatest source of confidence - GOD,
Summary
People
generally fall into one of three groups: the few who make things happen,
the many who watch things happen, and the overwhelming majority who
have no notion of what happens. Every person is either a creator of fact or
a creature of circumstance. He either puts colour into his environment, or,
like a chameleon, takes colour from his environment.”
