Potential has two sides to it–the side you’ve developed and the side you haven’t it. Phillips Brooks, author of the song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” said, “When you discover you’ve been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it.” Potential is a tricky thing. It’s hard to know how much you have until you learn what you didn’t know–and then the potential finish line moves. That’s why the development of your full potential is a lifelong journey.

Particularly important is the development of your missional potential. Your missional potential is where your God-given purpose intersects your God-given capacity. It’s the lifelong process of being on-mission with God to the fullest extent of who God created you to be. It’s the maximization of your spiritual gifts, abilities, skills, and passions–aligned with God’s mission for your life–to make the greatest contribution to the world around you. When you fail to develop your full missional potential, the underdeveloped side haunts you. The only cure is clarity of the mission God created you to pursue, the courage to go after it, and the commitment to be a lifelong learner.

Question: What are you doing to develop your missional potential?