Let’s Talk About Potential | Northstar Church

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:12-13

Throughout the ages, the deep, innermost desire of mankind has remained unchanged. Man wants to obtain the success that will create within him a lasting satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment. And certainly, the start of a new year and a new decade is the natural time to reflect on both our potential and our performance at reaching that potential.

Paul tells us that “… I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) The Passion Translation says, “And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.” Do you really believe that you can do everything through the strength of Christ’s explosive power? It is a life-changing statement for those who are willing to live life as if that statement is true. “I can do anything” is the true potential of every man and woman. While we all have different talents and callings in life, we all have potential. And in this year and in this decade, God is ready to reveal that potential to you if He has not already done so. He wants you to know exactly what He has equipped you to do in 2020 through 2029 and take full advantage of the possibilities in those years.

Potential is in you. Like faith, God built it in your DNA. Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

There is not a person alive today who has not been gifted by God. No one but Him knows the potential – the untapped ability and unused strength – that is inside you. It simply needs to grow and be developed. Your potential is empowered by faith. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. Faith is needed to release our potential.

Embrace the change you are trying to make in your life as a process. Don’t beat yourself up for not changing perfectly, succumbing to your fears, or taking baby steps. Allow it to be a process – with ups and downs – until you get to your finish line. Make 2020 the year that you surrender fully to Him, exercise your faith and realize your potential.

Discussion Questions:

Getting stuck is a vicious cycle. Fear keeps you from taking action. Agree or disagree and why?
Consider the changes you wish to make in 2020 and identify a simple step you can take this week to move you closer to it.