How does God encourage me to reach the potential he sees in me?

Judges 6:11-12, 14-15Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” . . . Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? . . . I am the least in my entire family!”

The angel of the Lord greeted Gideon by calling him a “mighty hero.” Was God talking to the right person? This was Gideon, hiding in a winepress from his enemies, who saw himself as “the least” in his family. God calls out the best in us, and he can see more in us than we could ever see in ourselves. We look at our limitations, but God looks at our potential. Gideon was threshing wheat to provide for his family, carrying on despite the dangers. If you want to change your perspective, learn to see your life from God’s eyes. God identified the strength that Gideon had and directed him to broaden his goals from caring for his family to serving his nation. God doesn’t put nearly as many limitations on us as we do. He not only sees us as we are today; he sees us for what he intends us to be.

Hebrews 11:32-35How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

The heroes of the Bible were all of the flawed by sin; nevertheless, they saw their potential revealed and released through the exercise of faith. Recognize that God included potential in your original design. The process of discovering and exercising your potential will be most effective if you continually seek his help in understanding how and where he designed you to serve by faith.

2 Corinthians 1:21It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us.

2 Corinthians 3:5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

God enables us all with strength and unique abilities. Then his Spirit empowers our potential. Focus your attention on what God can do through you, rather than on what you think you can do in your own strength.

Exodus 4:2, 11-12The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. . . . 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? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

The staff in Moses’s hand represented his life experiences; God’s intention to use Moses’s mouth (something Moses didn’t feel was of much value) represented God’s decision to use what Moses considered inadequate to accomplish his purposes for Israel. God puts both our strengths and our shortcomings to good use when they are surrendered to him.

Exodus 31:6“And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make.”

2 Chronicles 1:10“Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

Jeremiah 1:9Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!”

Daniel 1:17God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

Daniel 6:3Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Romans 12:6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

God equips us with the abilities (both human gifts and spiritual gifts) as well as providing the resources we need (the Bible, the church, prayer, godly friends) to receive training in wisdom and knowledge as we accumulate experiences leading to further ministry and usefulness for God’s Kingdom.

2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.

God guides us with his Word. Get in the habit of using it as a filter and check to evaluate your experiences, thoughts, and the teaching you receive. Give God the deciding vote in your life by spending time with him in Scripture.

Numbers 13:30Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

God strengthens us through the encouragement of others. This in turn prepares us to be an encouragement to others, even when our voice is outnumbered and what we say is unpopular. God’s strength in us will release our potential.

2 Corinthians 10:13We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us.

God protects us by setting boundaries that keep us within safe limits. One reason for developing a clear understanding of our gifts and abilities is that it provides a clearer picture of our limitations and our best opportunities for service to God.