by: Anthony Smith

Dean Karnazes is now a world class ultramarathon (100 miles) runner. He has many accomplishments to his credit. In 2005 he competed in a 350 mile relay race all by himself, and ran the entire distance without stopping. In 2006 at the age of 44 he ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. He ran a 135 mile ultramarathon across Death Valley in 120-degree temperature, and a marathon to the South Pole in negative 40-degree temperatures. He was recently ranked by a Time Magazine poll as #27 in the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.” It all started with a decision! That decision he made (drunk) to go for a run that night not only changed his life, but he is now influencing others to change theirs. When I read his story back in 2006, I made a decision to fulfill a lifelong dream of running in a marathon, which I did in 2008. All of the sudden my mind was open to new possibilities for myself. I asked myself, “What is my potential?”
Dictionary.com defines “potential” as, “capable of being or becoming.” I am not saying that we all have to be supreme athletes to reach our full potential in life. Maybe you are gifted in medicine and you are being called to go back to school. Maybe you have been blessed financially and you been called to be a giver. Maybe you have a wonderful voice but have never used it or shared it with the world. There is no limit of possibilities for how we can reach our potential. You could hold the key to something great that could change the world for the better! The only thing stopping us from reaching that potential is the decisions that we are making right now. We could strive for and yet never reach that potential, but if we don’t try we will never know.
God has given us everything we need to be able to reach our potential. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God has a great plan for our life, but it does require our cooperation. Our potential is not limited to what we “think” nor is it limited to earthly understanding. No, our potential comes from the Highest of High…God! Do not be afraid to dream big. So how do we know if a dream we have is actually from God? Joel Osteen once said, “A Godly dream is one that you have let go of, but it has not let go of you.” If you feel it is time for you do something now, I will give you three simple steps to get moving toward the wonderful gifts that await you (and through you).
1. Make a decision
Make up your mind and go! This step can happen in an instant, and when you least expect it. You may be mowing grass and all the sudden say, “I am going to get on a budget and be debt free!” Make these thoughts your goals, and be sure to write them down and organize them. Pay close attention to that quiet inner voice that has been speaking in your ear the past few years. It is there for a reason!
2. Surround yourself with people sharpeners
Some people in your life right now will be dream killers. This is a good time to reexamine your relationships. Surround yourself with people who will help sharpen these dreams and not kill them. Human nature will make others jealous when they see you wanting to do something positive with your life. Sometimes they will try to discourage you, just to keep you from doing it. Stick with those that say, “I am proud of you for this, and let me know how I can help.”
3. Learn discipline and trust
It is time to learn the trade and it will take some work and guts (and glory). It will also take some time to get things going, so be sure to stick to it. This may mean getting an education, or it could mean getting up at 5:30 a.m. to pray regularly. During this time it will be important to “trust” in God and what He is doing in your life. Many times along the way you will feel discouraged and want to throw in the towel. That is normal. Do your part and trust God to fulfill His part! Good luck and God Bless!
Works Cited
Davis, Joshua. "Wired 15.01: The Perfect Human." Wired News . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2010..
Works Cited
Davis, Joshua. "Wired 15.01: The Perfect Human." Wired News . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2010.
"Dean Karnazes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2010.
"Jeremiah 29:11 - Passage Lookup - New International Version - BibleGateway.com." BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2010.
"Ultramarathon Man: Dean Karnazes Official Website 2010." Ultramarathon Man: Dean Karnazes Official Website 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2010.
"potential." Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2010.
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