I have a passion for words. I love to study the background of words. I guess you could call me a word geek.
I also realize the power in words. Words have the ability to build someone up or tear them down. The words we speak to ourselves have the power to stop us in our tracks or catapult us from goodness to greatness!
Enthusiasm is one of those powerful words. Norman Vincent Peale says that enthusiasm is the second most important word in the English language, only losing first place to the word love. Earlier this week, we discussed going from good to great. Yesterday we discussed if we are going to climb to our God-given potential we must never settle. Today, if you want to go from good to great and reach your God-given potential, you must live with enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm comes from two Greek words. “En” which means “in” and the “thus” is a form of the Greek word “Theo”. “Theo” means “God”. It is where we get our English word Theology which means a study of God. So, the word “enthusiasm” originally meant “God in you”. Or at the very least “inspired by God”.
If you want to reach your God-given potential you must be inspired by God from within yourself. It must be a movement of God within your soul. Allow God to move in you and through you in an amazing way and he will take you to your God-given potential.
Ephesians 6:7 says, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (NLT). Whatever you are doing, do it as if you were doing it for God. What does that mean? Do it with enthusiasm, as if God were doing it in you and through you. If you cannot do what you do with enthusiasm, then one of two things must change for you to reach your God-given potential. You must either change your attitude or change what you do. It is that simple.
Many of the revival preachers from the two Great Awakenings were so successful because of their enthusiasm. It was said of one, George Whitfield, “he would set himself on fire and people would come to watch him burn.” Not a literal fire, but a fire of passion and enthusiasm! That is what it takes to reach your God-given potential.
Plus, enthusiasm motivates others to help and be a part of what you are doing. When you “set yourself on fire” then other people will take notice and they will come to “watch you burn.” Are you on fire? Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth; “For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action” (2 Corinthians 9:2, NIV). What had stirred others to action? Enthusiasm!
If you are going to make a change in your life it must be immediately and enthusiastically! Do it now and do it with enthusiasm. Set yourself on fire!
God is not done with you… so never settle and live with enthusiasm!
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Tommy Lanham is a dynamic, award-winning speaker who has been training individuals and organizations to reach their God-given potential for 25 years. With a unique blend of Ziglar motivation and ragamuffin faith, Tommy delivers powerful, life changing messages filled with humor, hope, and enthusiasm.
Tommy will empower, entertain and energize audiences to achieve extraordinary results and live a life beyond what they ever dreamed possible.
Tommy is dedicated to helping you make your next event the best you’ll ever experience. Your audience will laugh, learn and be inspired as he mixes enthusiasm and humor with motivational stories to deliver a high content message. You will look like a rockstar for hiring Tommy Lanham!
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