Do you often find yourself thinking about all the potential you have in life? How many disappointments have you experienced inyour life even though had great potential? You may have an advantage with your potential but is your success guaranteed?
Why Potential Doesn't Equal Success
Daniel Darling
I had a friend who hated to hear the dreaded, "P-word." To him, "potential" meant one thing: You're messing your life up, why won’t you get it in line?
He would say to me, "I’m tired of people saying I have potential and that I can do better. It would be so much easier if I didn't have any potential. There would be no pressure."
My friend, who later exceeded expectations by becoming a dynamic pastor of a large suburban church, hit the nail on the head.
With potential comes enormous pressure. Ask Solomon. Talk about potential; he was swimming in the stuff. His father, David, set up the nation of Israel in such a way that Solomon couldn't possibly fail. Then, the Lord made Solomon the wisest and richest man who ever lived.
Who could fail with that kind of a start?
Well, sadly, Solomon did fail. Sure, he built Israel into a superpower, he grew his wealth, he expanded the kingdom.
But as a spiritual and moral leader, he was an abysmal failure. As a result of his serial adultery, God eventually divided Israel into two kingdoms.
The question people ask is this. "How could someone like Solomon, who was given so much, fail?"
The answer? Potential doesn't equal success.
This is a pattern that's repeated today in Christian homes and schools across the country. Research indicates that somewhere around 80 percent of evangelical teens walk away from the faith when they get to college.
How can teens—who have been given so much from their Christian parents, good churches, and godly examples—chuck it all in favor of the temporary pleasures of sin?
The answer? Potential doesn't equal success.
What plagued Solomon—and what plagues Christian young people—is a failure to internalize faith, to make it their own. Instead, they are content to rest on the fervency of their parents or their pastor or their church. But this kind of hand-me-down experience won't survive the rigors of college, the workforce, and marriage.
The key to success in the Christian life is not what you've been given, but what you do with the opportunities God offers you. Solomon had a lot going for him and failed.
Contrast that with Joseph, who grew up in a dysfunctional family, was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and was falsely accused of rape.
Joseph had very little potential, and yet he succeeded.
Our all-powerful God has blessed each one of us differently. We all possess different gifts, talents, and passions. We all have different backgrounds, family situations, and heritages. These are things you cannot control. These are advantages or disadvantages you did not choose.
What you can control is how you choose to live your life. Will you squander what God has given you, or will you use it for His glory? Will you lament your station in life or will you make the most of every situation?
You can have potential without any success. You can have success without any potential. You can also have potential and success.
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Daniel Darling is the author of Teen People of the Bible. Visit him at danieldarling.com.
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Take care until…......and God Bless ya
http://jamesedgecombe2.blogspot.com/
Are you ready to face eternity? If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life and desire to make that commitment now please repeat the following prayer:
Lord Jesus be merciful to me a sinner. I realize that I have sinned against you and come short of your glory. I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and I believe in my heart that God has raised him from the dead. I pray for your forgiveness and ask that you save me now and accept me into your kingdom. Give me eternal life today.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
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Friday, August 7, 2009
Why Potential Doesn't Equal Success
Monday, January 26, 2009
Issue # 34 -'V' stands for ?
For the past 20 weeks they have fought hard in efforts to reach to this moment. Throughout this week in homes, at work, church, public places, and many parts of the world this will be the major subject matter. Some call it 'The Big Dance'. On Sunday many will be looking on to see who will receive the honor and be crowned champions of the NFL.
Gimme a V, you gat your V you gat your V. Now go ahead and give me some volume. Come on you can turn it up a little more than that.
Well it’s time to get back to our series A-Z. We are now on the verge of a word that you were born to have in your life. Sadly to say for both of us we have some work to do on this matter in some areas of our lives.
Well the quicker I give it to you the quicker you can embrace it. V-I-C-T-O-R-Y , It’s time to pull out the 'victory' .
Victory:
1.Defeat of an enemy or opponent.
2.Success in a struggle against difficulties or an obstacle.
3.The state of having triumphed. 
You and I were born with a spirit of victory but are you living a victorious life? Even though you can walk in victory it doesn’t just fall from the sky in your lap. Well even if it did, you still have to do something in order to keep it.
You must realize that when you achieve victory you become an open target to many people. The funny thing about it is that these same people have the opportunity to have victory in their own life.
If you want victory or success shouldn’t you go to other persons that has it evident in their lives and ask them how they did it.? But you know it doesn’t happen that way. What they do is choose to be jealous and envious of you.
Sometimes it surprises you who these people are. You can offer to help them get to that same place but they refuse to accept your help. Well my friend you can only offer, it is up to the one who needs help to accept it.
Yes you can be victorious, yes you can accomplish your goals. Obtaining victory can be a long hard fought battle, but if you be persistent you will see the results turn in your favor.
There may be defeats, disappointments, and pain but you must hang in there. Then all of a sudden you will be the one standing with the prize in your possession.
Take a look at these reason why you should have victory:
Victory vs. Defeat
1. Prize gained vs. Prized loss
2. Accomplished goal vs. Unaccomplished goal
3. Happiness vs. Sadness
4. New opportunities vs. Loss opportunity
5. Opened doors vs. Closed doors
6. Respected vs. Disrespected
7. Satisfaction vs. Disappointment
Now tell me which state would you rather have in your life?
Are you ready to face eternity? If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life and desire to make that commitment now please repeat the following prayer:
Lord Jesus be merciful to me a sinner. I realize that I have sinned against you and come short of your glory. I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and I believe in my heart that God has raised him from the dead. I pray for your forgiveness and ask that you save me now and accept me into your kingdom. Give me eternal life today.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Coming next………………letter 'W'
Take care until…......and God Bless ya
http://jamesedgecombe2.blogspot.com/
