Anne Frank once said:

“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”

When God looks inside of us. . .He doesn’t see the failures of the past. . .but rather the potential for our future.

He sees potential in us. . .we’ve never seen or didn’t even know we have.

Let me ask each of us two questions.

Do we think God can create amazing opportunities where they didn’t previously exist?

Do we think. . .God has unlimited potential?

The answer to both questions is:  “Yes, absolutely.”

One more question. . .do we believe the Word of God? 

“Of course, we do.”

Genesis 1:26 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority. . .”

The Living Bible in Genesis 1:26 says:

“Then God said, `Let us make a man—someone like ourselves, to be the master of all life upon the earth and in the skies and in the seas.”

It’s time we seize previously unknown opportunities and tap into previously unused potential.

For years, I saw myself as an average person. . .but when I got into the Word of God. . .He begin to bring out abilities and attitudes in me. . .which began to maximize my potential.

Gideon never saw His potential until an angel told him that he was a “mighty man of valor.”

Judges 6:12 says:

“And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

God saw a potential in Gideon he didn’t even know existed in himself. . .as he had a poor self-image.

Judges 6:15 in the Message Bible says:

“Gideon said to him, “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.”

As Gideon became faithful to God’s direction. . .he was able to tap into a potential he never knew was within him until God showed up.

After 40 years on the backside of the desert. . .when God told Moses he would be the deliverer of his people. . .he questioned his own potential for leadership because. . .he had become disheartened over the opportunities of his past. . .which seemed lost to him forever.

Exodus 4:10 in the New Living Translation says:

“But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

When it comes to your potential for success or leadership. . .don’t look at your abilities but rather what God can do through you. . .as a yielded vessel.

Exodus 4:11 in the New Living Translation says:

“Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?”

When you follow God’s direction. . .you’re able to tap into a potential you never knew you had like Gideon. . .or claim a potential for success you may have thought died in the desert of your dreams. . .like Moses.

God sees a greater potential in you than you’ve ever seen in yourself.

Open the eyes of my heart Lord so that I might see you, is more than a song….

In order to think creatively about tapping into your potential. . .it’s imperative that you create an  environment free from distractions. . .a quiet place.

In other words, a place where no one else is talking or doing anything which will draw your attention and break your focus.

Be mentally and spiritually prepared to open your heart to receive what God is sending your way.

I strongly encourage everyone. . .to spend an hour. . .thirty minutes. . .even fifteen minutes in your quiet place. . .asking God to reveal your  previously untapped potential for Kingdom effectiveness and success.

Start praying with electronic toy or pen and paper near.  Ask God to reveal previously untapped potential and how to manifest it?  Thank and Praise Him in advance for the revelation and instructions He’s sending your way.

Truthfully, you can close your eyes and begin writing or typing.  I’ve typed several Rich Thoughts For Breakfast teachings with my eyes closed the entire time.

You might even choose to play some praise music. . .and ask the Holy Spirit to provoke your thinking.

The key. . .ask God to open your mind to the potential waiting to be realized in your life.

Gideon and Moses were hesitant to tap into their potential because of fear.  In Gideon’s case it was fear of the unknown and with Moses it was a fear of the past.  Through in a little fear of failure. . .and you find two leaders who questioned their potential.

Fear of failure holds people back…and keeps them from maximizing their potential for success.

Fear doesn’t come from God.

2 Timothy 1:17 says:

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

Here are seven quick truths found in this verse.

First, fear doesn’t come from God.

Second, God doesn’t want you timid. . .he doesn’t want you to be a coward when it comes to expressing your Godly opinions and doing what’s right. . .and, he doesn’t want you cringing about the things you think could go wrong.

Third, God has given you a special gift. . .dispensation.

Fourth, God has given you a spirit of power. . .the strength to overcome any and everything.

Fifth, God always wants you acting in love.

Sixth, God wants your life to be calm. . .not living in the tyranny of the urgent and with a well-balanced mind.

Seventh, God wants you living a life disciplined by the Word. . .exercising self-control over the temptations of the enemy.

As you can see. . .there’s much more to the verse. . .than just overcoming fear.

It’s time for a reality check.

Pastor Joel Osteen said:

"I want to challenge you today to get out of your comfort zone.  You have so much incredible potential on the inside.  God has put gifts and talents in you that you probably don't know anything about." 

At some point in your life you will either be forced to live in the potential of your faith or with the consequences of your doubt.

Here are a few principles to help you tap into previously unused potential.

First, check your attitude and be sure you’re open minded to new ideas.

Albert Einstein said:

“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”

Ephesians 4:23 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].”

Second, make sure you committed to doing things with excellence.

God is not into mediocrity. . .consider the words of Colossians 3:17 in the English Standard Bible which says:

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Everything God does. . .is first-class.  He gave His best for us. . .He expects us to give Him our best.

Finally, write down every idea you can think of and do not evaluate them while you’re writing them.

Before getting to the heart of this matter. . .it’s important to point out three hindrances some people. . .believers. . .face in tapping into previously unused potential.

Some people don’t think they’re creative or sadly, that they don’t have any potential for greater success.

If you buy into this lie. . .it will limit what God wants to do in and through your life.

Perhaps you don’t feel you’re creative because of some bad experience in school or your past.  It’s just not true. . .you have the same creative potential as the smartest people I’ve ever met.

You have the mind of Christ and that makes you filled with the potential of the universe. . .regardless of what anyone else ever says to you.

Recognize, cultivate and manifest. . .the previously untapped potential in your life.

Og Mandino, author of The Greatest Salesman In The World once said:

“I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.”

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