“Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor” (Prov. 13:23).
Much food is in uncultivated ground and much potential is in the uncultivated ground of people’s lives. I have seen great potential go untapped for years. God sees this in our lives daily and I feel that God spends much time telling us to be all that we can be.
What is potential? Potential is what might be and what could be, but isn’t yet. Many times when I have seen a child that is greatly talented, I’ve thought to myself, “This child could be anything they want to be when they grow up.”
But no matter how much talent a child may have or how great the natural abilities are, it is still only potential until the talent is activated.
I remember a few years ago I was with a friend who pointed out another man in the crowd. He said, “See that guy over there? When he was in high school, he could have been anything he wanted to be. But he turned out to be overweight, undereducated and very unsuccessful.”
As I was introduced to him, it became quite obvious that this man was still living in the past, talking about and reliving his days in high school. He could have been anything. He had great potential. But his potential went unfulfilled. This is sad.
Everyone reading this is full of potential. God has placed inside of you abilities and gifts that are unique to your calling and to the plan that God has for your life. No one else is able to do what God has called you to do the way He has called you to do it.
Everybody has potential, but sadly few fulfill it. There are churches all over this nation with great potential. There are Christians full of God-given potential. Our duty and our responsibility is to not waste these God-given resources, but to develop and use them to their fullest.
Examine yourself. Review what God has spoken to you and remember this. God will never call you to do anything unless He fully equips you for the task. But until you walk in His giftings, you are only potential.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.