Why Reaching Your God-Given Potential Shouldn't Take Ages

The man you are now isn’t the man you know you’re called to be.

You know you should be praying, studying the Bible, sharing your faith to others, exercising, while avoiding pornography, endless scrolling, and distractions.

So why aren’t you that man yet?

It’s not just a lack of effort—it’s a misunderstanding of how transformation works and clinging to self-told lies that keep you stuck.

I haven’t fully become the man I long to be. But recently, I’ve been reflecting on the call to put off the old nature and put on the new.

Here’s the thing: the Bible doesn’t offer the usual self-help advice you’d expect, like:

• Build ironclad discipline.

• Grind through what’s necessary.

• Repeat positive affirmations.

Instead, it commands something radical: die to sin.

Dead men don’t struggle and can’t be tempted.

How do you die to something like pornography addiction?

Start by hating it. Truly hate it. Cast it off like a filthy T-shirt you’ve worn, unwashed, for a decade. It’s not a sacrifice to let it go, but a blessing to finally smell good.

If you don’t hate it enough, you’ll be tempted to slip it back on when the urge strikes. So make a list—a long one—of why you hate pornography.

“You were taught… to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV)

God’s grace, forgiveness, and acceptance empower you to step into this new life, with all its incredible benefits. You already love the idea of it, don’t you? Picture how your life would look if you prayed consistently, exercised regularly, and knew God better than your closest friend.

Hold that vision in your heart. Admire it. Treasure it.

Celebrate every small step you take toward it each day. You are that man—even if your actions don’t fully align yet. Why? Because your heart is excited about it.

If becoming the man God created you to be was as simple as flipping a switch, you’d have done it already.

So, what’s holding you back?

• Fear of commitment. You assume change requires endless effort and time. What if that belief is wrong? At the very least, it’s an excuse to procrastinate. Challenge the idea that transformation has to take a long time and effort.

• False beliefs. Paul urges us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Limiting, destructive thoughts live in your mind rent-free, like they own the place. Question every belief you’ve accepted without scrutiny. Set up a mental checkpoint—every thought must align with the truth before it’s allowed to stay.

• Doubts that breed skepticism. Your mind tries to shield you from disappointment by expecting the worst. But that’s just speculation, and it’s destructive. People who believe in possibilities notice them all around. Those who doubt they’ll ever succeed rarely rise above their doubts.

• Clinging to a low self-image. Hear this: God doesn’t create junk. The enemy wants you to believe you’re anything less than made in God’s image. Think of the most breathtaking scenery you’ve ever witnessed—God created it. Yet even the grandest mountains or sunsets weren’t designed to reflect His image. You were. You’re more magnificent than all of creation.

Ban the old self and become new.

• You’re not a man who lusts after women.

• You’re not a man who delights in sin.

• You’re not a man who skips prayer.

• You’re not a man who settles for laziness.

Embrace your new self—created in God’s image, righteous, holy, and glorious.

Step into that truth today.

Here’s my challenge: Test this for just a few hours. Decide to accept nothing less than the man God created you to be and identify with your perfect self. Don’t accept anything less than that. NO. MATTER. WHAT. Then, observe how you react, how you act.

You will be surprised by the outcomes.

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