Maximizing Your Potential

someone was waiting to take or attack what man had been given to keep. The Scriptures warn us of this thief. I [Jesus] am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:9 10). Satan is our enemy. He wants to destroy the power of God within us so that God’s glory is not revealed in us. He who was thrown out of Heaven to the earth, where he “leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9), is out to remove us from the One who is our life and our salvation. He’s out to destroy all we could be because he knows that those who become rerooted in God have the ability to act like God, showing His nature and likeness. Consequently, satan comes as a thief to steal our potential because he cannot boldly challenge God’s power within us. Our outward container, which is our body, reveals nothing of the treasure inside us. This all-surpassing treasure is God’s power and wisdom. The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure (Isaiah 33:5-6). In other words, the key to releasing God’s power within you is reverencing Him, which is living with Him in a relationship of obedience and submission. You are filled with heavenly wisdom, but you have to follow God’s program to benefit from it. Jesus spoke of this need to live in relationship with God when He said: Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you (John 15:4-7). No wonder satan tries to steal our potential. He fears God’s power within us because it is greater than he is. Therefore, our dreams, plans, and ideas are targets of his evil forces. The minute we have a good idea, the deceiver will send someone to criticize our dream because he cannot permit us to accomplish our vision. As long as we are only dreaming, he is safe and he’ll let us alone. When we begin to act on our dream, he’ll hit us full force. Our dreams, plans, and ideas are targets of satan’s evil forces. You are responsible to guard your dream and bring it to reality by