POTENTIAL

During these winter months of chilly and often dreary days, my hope of seeing a beautiful sunrise has been my motivation to walk each morning. As I observe the quiet reverence of the early morning glow, soon followed by the glorious joy of the first bright beams, my soul is filled with peace and gratitude. For me, the sunrise signifies that a fresh and full day has come for us to enter and enjoy. We have the entire day before us to live well, to love, and to relish. Each new day holds great potential, with an ample capacity to be filled with good things.

This idea of potential has been lingering with me this week. Our potential is a gift; it is the capability to learn and grow, to deepen and expand, to discover and to share. As I think about the potential of a new day, the potential for my life, the potential within me, questions come to mind. Jesus tells us that he has come to give us abundant life (John 10:10); does he see greater potential in me than I do? Am I using each day fully, am I using my interests and abilities to their full potential? Am I noticing all that God is revealing? Am I doing all that I am meant to do?

So, in my journaling time earlier this week, I asked God about my potential…

God of my potential, what would you have me know today?

Expanding Karen,

You have carried this word (potential) in your soul for a few days now. Today I want you to know this: Do you see that your potential is only limited by your capacity for it? And then, do you see that I am always and ever expanding that capacity within you?

“Do not conform to this world…” Do not make potential a measure of success, but a gift for me to fill.

Thank you, God.

Can we live each day, not striving to achieve our fullest potential, but instead, being present and attentive to God’s expanding work within us? Can our potential expand as we actually narrow our vision, solely asking God to increase our capacity for more of God’s goodness? Can we live, not according to worldly measures of success, but out of the abundance of Christ?

Can our potential become less self-driven and more God-given?

Today, Paul’s prayer is for me. I hope it blesses you, too.

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20:16-21 NRSV)