Release Your Potential

by Lenny Solomona - “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 11:1)

The Danger of an Aimless Walk

Like us, David was a man with so much potential but one day, he chose slothfulness over that potential. And as a result his attitude disempowered him. He ended up going for a walk, but it was an aimless one because it was in the wrong direction. You know what would unfold next - the rest is history!

Now here’s the good news: in spite of David’s poor decision, he would still fulfil the potential he had and become Israel’s greatest king.

The Problem Wasn’t His Potential, It Was His ‘But’

You see the problem wasn’t his potential, the problem was his ‘but’.

He was supposed to go to battle…but? But what? He chose to sit on his potential instead of fulfilling his purpose. He was a leader, but he chose to follow temporary comfort over long term pain because his ‘but’ determined his choices.

Kicking Our ‘But’ in the Butt

God has given us gifts and talents to outwork the potential he’s put on the inside of us – they’re called ‘strengths’. But what often affects our effectiveness are our choices, AKA ‘attitude’ which is associated with our ‘weaknesses’.

Maybe David thought slothfulness was a talent? Or maybe he felt he’d done enough, and he was entitled to a sabbatical? Whatever he thought, the Bible says, ‘but he tarried still at Jerusalem’ and this produced an aimless outcome.

Men, if we’re ever going to fulfil the God given potential we have as a man, husband, father, or leader, it’s starts by kicking our ‘but’ in the butt!

Excuses and poor choices don’t build strong men, powerful marriages, role modelling parenting, or influential leadership - example does. Too many of us are walking aimlessly and as a result, we have become ineffective and lost.

Birthhood is a Matter of Fact, Manhood is a Matter of Choice

One of the most impacting quotes I’ve ever heard about men came from the Christian Men’s Network under the powerful leadership of its founder, the late Dr Ed Cole when he said, “Christlikeness and Manhood is synonymous, being a male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of choice.”

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”.

Stop Wandering, Start Running

The way we think will eventually form our decisions and those decisions will determine how much value we add to our lives and the lives of others. Men who sit on their potential end up becoming the “could’ve been, should’ve been, might’ve been but never was!”

It’s time to stop walking aimlessly and start running the course of your calling with purpose and fervency.

Bless you!
Lenny Solomona
Director of 1Touch Ministries

P.S. Done sitting on the sidelines? It’s time to step up, kick the excuses, and step into your God-given calling alongside hundreds of other men.

Lenny Solomona is taking the stage as a guest speaker at the Promise Keepers Event in Auckland, this Saturday 15 August! Come ready to be challenged, sharpened, and equipped to lead with purpose.