No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT) God can take your mess and turn it into a message. He doesn’t create the painful mess you encounter, but He does weave together the things that have gone wrong in your life in a way that propels you to something greater. You may be embarrassed by your past, but it’s time to overcome it. God isn’t a God of the past. He is focused on where you are heading. Actually, …

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God… Romans 8:28 (NKJV) No matter what has happened to you in life, God can turn it around for good. Take Joseph as an example. Joseph was close to his father, Jacob. His life seemed to be going well until the day his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. When Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard, he had a decision to make. He could choose to dwell on the injustice of his situation, or he could rise up to be the best he could be. He chose the latter, and eventually he was promoted to oversee Potiphar’s entire household. But one day Potiphar’s wife took a liking …

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 1 Corinthians 12:4 (NLT) God placed great potential within you before you were born. This potential was in you before you ever began a relationship with Jesus, which explains why people who don’t know Him can still achieve great things without Him. Actually, as sad as this may seem, many people who don’t know Jesus seem to have an easier time realizing their potential. This is because most Christians attribute only so-called “spiritual gifts” to God—gifts that can be used in the ministry. What they don’t realize is that He also gives people great gifts of leadership, management, influence and ability to make money. He gives gifts in …

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG) The amazing life that God wants you to have starts inside you. As Christians, we tend to pray about external things: “God fix my body, my family, my spouse, my business.” But God works in our lives from the inside out. Today’s verses teach that when you ask God to get involved in the areas of your life where you haven’t yet reached your potential, He doesn’t take over. He works within you deeply and gently. As a result of that inner …

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think, according to the power that works with in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB) Your past does not determine your future. You may have suffered setbacks, tragedies and failures in life, but our God is not a God of the past. He’s the God of your potential—the God of your future. Your belief in what He says about you is what determines your future. God knows the potential He placed within you. You have been created for great things. Even if you have suffered failure, God has higher plans …