“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening my axe”

–Abraham Lincoln

Probably one of the most profound statements I have ever heard (or read) in my life is the following:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, and I have kept the faith”.

Actually, a linguist who studied the original language in which those immortal words were spoken renders it this way:

“I have served Christ properly, like someone who does athletics to win. I have finished everything God wanted me to do. I have done everything like a runner who has run t the end of the path. I have continued to believe God and I have obeyed him”. [Italics mine]

The guy who spoke these words was on death row! No regrets. Full satisfaction. Looking forward to the next dispensation in his immortality.

In talking about potential, we have looked at various aspects of unearthing it so far. However, it is my firm belief that this instalment is the center piece of it all. In other words, if you miss this one, chances are that you have missed everything entirely, so pay close attention.

A Recap

In order to unearth potential,

1. Get Revelation on the Potential Principle:

2.Take the Path of Most Resistance:

3. Lean onto Natural Gifts and Talents:

4. Live on the Edge:

5. Leverage on the Power of Focus

 

6. Get Locked into Your Life Purpose

 

The man who made the whole known world at his time to know about him and his passion (the Gospel) said “…I have finished MY course…”

No doubt that Paul the Apostle’s impact in life still reverberates with us centuries after he is gone! The key to his astounding success is found in singleness of purpose. Paul of course did not start well. He did not know what his purpose in life was at the onset of his life…

But after he did, we find no reference to any other activity the apostle did outside of his life purpose. Can we say that of ourselves? Can I say that about myself?

“No doubt that Paul the Apostle’s impact in life still reverberates with us centuries after he is gone! The key to his astounding success is found in singleness of purpose“.

Probably, Paul was in his mid life or at least his early 30’s when he discovered his life purpose. Hint: He was not on a 40 days’ fast praying for God to show up. He was in action…in fact doing contrary to what God planned for his life.

I know you might be asking yourself: How do I discover my life purpose? For the most part, after asking the right questions, your purpose will be unearthed “on the go”.

Getting locked into your life purpose is the best way to unearth your potential. You know why? It is because your purpose was created first…and then your potential was formulated in order that you could fulfill your purpose.

“If you are going to unearth your potential, please make sure that you rediscover the main reason as to why you were born. I can tell you this though: It is not to occupy space above the earth when alive, and occupy space beneath the earth while dead”.

On the same breath as the previous quote, the very Paul the Apostle said the following powerful words (I wonder if there are any words that Paul said that were not powerful):

“Do this because it is nearly time for me to die. It is time for me to be like an offering to God, like the drink offering they pour out. Very soon, I will go to God”

Notice the words “pour out”.

Is it possible to live a life that is ‘poured out’ if you are not single minded about your life of purpose? I do not think so. The words ‘pour out’ signify emptying. Draining out. And we are not talking about draining out just for the sake of it. We are talking about every single drop that is being poured out being useful, impactful and life changing.

Once you know what your life purpose is, the very next thing you will have to do is to get poured out…emptying all the potential that you have to serve your purpose on earth. There is no better way to do it than this.

That is why there are many regrets at death. Illustrious lives (in our eyes) are reduced to unfathomable regrets at death, because of two major things:

• Life purpose was not pursued
• Potential was never used to serve the Life purpose.

If you are going to unearth your potential, please make sure that you rediscover the main reason as to why you were born. I can tell you this though: It is not to occupy space above the earth when alive, and occupy space beneath the earth while dead.

Think about that.