How to Reach Your Full Potential for God - Never Settle for Less than His Best

Charles Stanley in his book, How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, sets out to give us a blueprint for those who want to live a life of purpose, God's purpose that is, to find and live out that purpose, to live a life at full potential in Christ. Stanley has written an encouraging, biblically sound book. He says we must step out in faith and trust the principles and promises of God found in the Bible. And he is right, in this world filled with self help gurus everywhere, everyone clambering to tell us what life is about, who we are and not are, what our life purpose is to be. We need to keep ourselves firmly planted in God's purpose for us, hold on to the potential we have in Him.

It is good for a book like this to come along, yes one can be critical and say "Oh No another self help book". But if we do not get a constant flow of reminders to keep us centered on Gods truths, we can as Paul says "even the elect can be persuaded" to something else. Stanley encourages us to not settle for the ordinary life, the life the world offers us, that is less than what God has for us. He teaches to seek out the extraordinary purpose that only God can give us.

Stanley sets out seven points to live by: Seek being God's best, not settling for less, pursuing potential, a clean heart, a clear mind, using our gifts, a healthy body, right relationships, a balanced schedule and taking God-approved risks. Points that everyone could use for living life.

This book was good timing for me, I had lost my purpose in life recently due to circumstances in my life, so this book was perfect timing. So I do highly recommend this book, you will get something out of it, what depends on where you are in life. It could be life changing things or just minor course correction for you life, and that makes it worth reading.

I had some problems getting my thoughts clear on this book because I did not want to be overly dismissive. Dr. Charles Stenley has served God for a long time and I believe he is honest and sincere in his call as a pastor. He may well be a very good person to give you pastoral advice one-on-one when he knows the particular of your situation. The problem here is that in generalizing things to apply to everyone, they end up with so many decision trees that it really has no real world applicability to no one.

This is the whole problem when "pop psychology" is wrapped in Christian garb. The popular self-help authors take situations, generalize them, and give solutions that sound good when said in a soothing voice but, when applied in situations with their own specific contributing factors, fall apart. It just made one-size-fits-all but ends up fitting no one except through wild distortions.

Then there is the whole problem of whether the goals are even achievable. The principles outlined in the book all sound great until you realize the source they are supposedly derived from (the Bible) does not give unswerving support for their being achieved this side of eternity. How can you advise to "have a clean heart" on Biblical grounds when the Bible states the heart of man is wicked? Obviously, there needs to be a little more exegesis applied to the passages he quotes before making such banal generalities.

Nor does even following complete Biblical principles guarantee earthly success. That is the "health and wealth" message of the televangelist frauds who live high off their contributors. What if God's calling is for you to die a martyr's death and be the seed of future faith? That would not meet most people's standards of success but God's ways are not our ways and that is the problem in using God's Word to support our goals.

Charles Stanley is a good guy and I have heard him preach some good Biblical sermons. It is books like this, however, when pastoral counseling meets self-help pop psychology, where he seems to have lost his mark.

The book starts out with how we are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. A great way to begin the book - we certainly wouldn't know our potential unless we understood who made us and why!
There are some nice and practical advice as well in the book, and the author talks of his own struggles. Personal stories are always great to hear.
The only problem I had with this book was that it started to get a little less interesting after the first few chapters. Maybe the book could have been condensed a little.
Still, a very good read and very encouraging to anyone who truly wants to reach their full potential!

Charles Stanley says that he had an encounter with God, in which the Lord spoke to him:

"If you truly want to reach your full potential, you must have a clean heart, a clear mind and a balanced schedule."

From that encounter, Charles Stanley shares with his readers (and church members) the keys that he believes God showed him. He also shares what he believes to be the main reasons why people have become bored with life and are not functioning at their full potential. In this book are Stanley's "Five Key Principles" about your potential and how to "choose life" as God's word commands. Stanley writes about the differences between our attributes and our abilities, and some of the hindrances that stop us from pursuing our potential.

Establishing right relationships is one of the essentials that Stanley mentions, and he describes what types of relationships to avoid in order to function at your full potential. He also details the importance of having a balanced schedule, and how to avoid the traps of wasted time. Although the information in this book isn't anything new - it is organized and broken down into categories that will help the reader understand how to reevaluate their life and work on the areas that need improvement.

Review of "How to Reach Your Full Potential for God" by Charles Stanley

I was very excited to read this book, based on the title of the book and the author. I've not read anything by Charles Stanley myself before, but have been in various settings where his works were used (for example, my Sunday School teacher uses some of his works at times for our class). However, I was very disappointed by the book. It seemed to me too forced and not naturally flowing, and did not provide the type of insights that I was expecting. Essentially, I found it to be a self-help style book with a spiritual slant, but not as well written as what I've heard in other works by Stanley.

The book itself was choppy and difficult to read, not a flowing work that grabbed my attention and encouraged me to read more. Some of the other books I've read in this vein are difficult to put down, making you want to get on to the next chapter before taking a break; not so with this one. I found little desire to continue reading, and had to force myself through the book (primarily for the sake of the review). I presume this is not typical of Stanley's work, as (previously mentioned) I've been impressed by what I've heard from other of his writings, but this one failed to impress. I'm sorry to say that I don't recommend this book, as I'm sure his other works are certainly worth reading.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I have several books from Charles Stanley and really enjoy them. This is another well written book, and the advices given in the book are based on the Bible with plenty of Bible references included.

Being a professional in an executive management position, I focus a lot of my time and energy to be even more successful in my career, seeking constantly to advance. For me this book is like the right book at the right time, as it brings back my attention to reaching my full potential for God, instead of making secular gains my first priority.

Dr. Stanley is so right in starting out with the importance of having a clean heart. Too often in our churches we look up to people who are very talented. To quote from Dr. Stanley on pg 35: "This book presents seven essentials related to the pursuit of your God-given potential. But only one absolute essential relates to your eternal potential: you must have a clean heart." Instead of a secular worship of 'superstars' and 'celebrities', we need to focus on purity in our lives, on a right relationship with God.

If you are interested in reaching your full potential for God, I definitely recommend this book.

Charles Stanley has the gift of making the practice of the Christian life intelligible, palatable and purposeful. In his new book, "How to Reach Your Full Potential for God," Stanley states that we are uniquely created by God with a mission, and are gifted with the abilities we need to fulfill that purpose. This book is your tool in making yourself available to the Holy Spirit so that you can fulfill the purpose God has sent you to complete.

I especially enjoyed the chapter entitled "Essential #4: A Healthy Body." So often neglected in the body vs. spirit debate, Stanley has crafted a terrific section about our responsibility to care for our bodies. We don't always know why we are struck with illness and suffer, but we do have an obligation to avoid the illness and suffering that are avoidable (for example: tobacco, drugs, alcohol). He discusses stress and the enemies of stress. There is a series of questions at the end of the chapter that ask you to "Check Your Attitude About Health." It is common sense with a spiritual dimension.

"How To Reach Your Full Potential For God" by Charles F. Stanley is a very useful book. What separates this from other self-help and how-to-reach-your-full-potential books is simple- it's the last two words: "FOR GOD." That's Dr. Stanley's focus in this book. I have several of Dr. Stanley's books, and I have enjoyed each of them. That being said, there is some seeming overlap in this book and some of this other books, like "Success God's Way" and "How To Listen To God." Some of the material in this book seemed very familiar- but in a complimentary way, not in a redundant way. That makes sense, though, as truth doesn't change just because you want fresh material for a book.

I recommend this book to everyone. It doesn't matter if you're a highschooler, a housewife, a retiree or a CEO- the principles in this book apply to you. I enjoy Dr. Stanley's conversational, down-to-earth writing style. I especially enjoyed the parts of the book that used the example of Jesus and how He fulfilled His potential. He is, after all, the ultimate example. It's an easy read, yet a challenging subject matter. Without a doubt, it calls the reader to a higher standard- a standard much different from the world's definition of meeting your potential.

As the title suggests, How to Reach Your Full Potential for God is basically a self-help book written from a Christian perspective. Stanley makes use of the typical self-help style-book in employing numbered lists and rhetorical questions that could easily be transferred to index cards to be taped to the reader's mirror. What sets this one apart from the norm is the last phrase of the title that shifts the focus off of the self and back to God.

Unfortunately, the book felt simultaneously heavy on sweeping generalizations and very specific instructions with little scriptural (or other as appropriate) support. The book's best moments were when the author got lost in telling a biblical story that related to the point he was trying to make. Those were unfortunately few and far between. The advice given was for the most part pretty solid, but the reader would have to take Stanley's word for it. I would strictly recommend this for the self-help crowd or fans of Stanley.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This is an outstanding book. Easy to read, yet rich with insight and practical advice. The book starts by discussing the purpose of our lives and examines our potential. Then each chapter addresses an aspect of what you need to help you pursue your potential: a clean heart, a clear mind, knowing and using your gifts, a healthy body, relationships that honor God, a balanced schedule, and a Godly way of examining and taking risks. I could have highlighted nearly every sentence in the book. This book would make an excellent gift for graduation, for those examining career choices, and for those hitting their mid-life crisis. Highly recommended.

In "How To Reach Your Full Potential For God," Pastor Charles Stanley shares with his readers his interpretation of the plan and purpose God has planned for his creations. This is a very powerful and inspiring message akin to a self-help book that shows the reader in definitive form that regardless of failures, setbacks, and frustrations a person can achieve freedom and purpose through the word of God. Stanley tells the reader that "if you settle for less than God's best in your life, the world will lose your contribution, and you will miss the exhilaration of reaching your full potential." I agree. Five stars with no reservation.

Do you feel down? Depressed? Hate your job? Think things are never going to get better? Well, Dr. Stanley shows us that it is time to "think again" on all of these subjects. If you feel like you have lost your direction, I encourage you to get this book. If you think you are caught in a dead-end job where you are not allowed to be creative, again, I encourage you to read this book and see if that is what you are supposed to be doing with your life.

The book is well-written and very encouraging. It is a bit "preachy" at time, but I suppose that is to be expected from a preacher.

At the beginning of this book Charles Stanley tells readers about an encounter he had with the Lord. He said He spoke into his spirit: "If you truly want to reach your full potential, you must have a clean heart, a clear mind, and a balanced schedule." From that encounter, Pastor Charles was able to put together seven essentials to an abundant life. With those essentials he came up with this clear and practical guide to fully experiencing all that God has planned for each our lives.

I really do feel like this book challenged me not to settle with where I am in life. It has a powerful and inspiring message and I will definitely be reading it over again and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone that is looking for their purpose in life and has the desire to Reach their full potential for God.

This is book was provided free for review by Thomas Nelson.

If you are a regular reader of Dr. Charles Stanley you will find this book a great addition to your library. In How to Reach Your Full Potential, Dr. Stanley addresses the things which tend to bind us and bring us down, keeping us locked in a prsion where we cannot ascend any higher in our life or goals. He helps us to understand how God sees us and the ways in which He has opened those prison doors and unlocked our shackles so that we can go free and live up to the potential that God birthed in us. Easy to read and understand, Dr. Stanley writes with the pen of a pastor with decades of experience and wisdom.

Charles Stanley zeroes in on seven essentials that we must have in order to reach out full potential in God. They are so basic that it seems that most Christians would already be doing these things. But they/we are not. These essentials are things that Christians struggle with on a daily basis. You may feel convicted in some areas, but Dr. Stanley uplifts you and motivates you to get it right.

If I cannot make it to my own service I will watch Charles Stanley on TV. He is definitely anointed in the Word. I recommend this book for great encouragement to your daily walk.

Donnica Copeland

I was familiar with Charles Stanley's radio program, In Touch, but had not yet read his written work. So I looked forward to reading, "How to Reach your Full Potential for God."

I will admit to wondering if this was another book that mixes "Religion" with "Secular Philosophy", due to the subtitle, "Never settle for less than His best." It was a relief therefore to find that this book is Biblically based and never gets into "Name it and Claim it" promises.

Rather, after establishing that we were created for a purpose, Stanley lays out seven "essentials", or principles to being in God's Will and fulfilling His purpose: "A Clean Heart", "A Clear Mind", "Using your Gifts", "A Healthy Body", "Right Relationships", "A Balanced Schedule" and "Taking God-approved Risks." Each principle is given its own chapter. By following these principles we will put aside the things that come between us and God. We will then be free to hear from God and be led by Him.

I found this book to be timely, well written and Biblical:
* Timely, because too often people wonder "why they are here", or "why God isn't speaking to me?", yet they take no action to find out why.
* Well written, because Stanley uses a balance of logic and true-life experiences, yet bases them all on God's Word.
* Biblical. Stanley neither adds to, nor twists scripture to fit his thesis.

I appreciated the positive, Biblical message; it truly encouraged me to reach for my full potential for God. If you are interested in becoming your all and doing your all for God, then I would recommend this book.

Charles Stanley was recently voted one of the most influential pastors of our day. Through In Touch Ministries, his sermons reach an audience of several thousand people each week. However, Dr. Stanley's latest book, How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, is a mixed bag.

I tend to be very suspicious when it comes to self-help books. Even when they are written by Christian authors, they tend to be extremely self-centered and shallow. In my experience, self-help books have the power to be inspirational but not life-changing. That said, Dr. Stanley is actually able to communicate some good advice to the reader. By writing in plain language and citing many biblical principles, this book manages to make itself a worthwhile read.

At the beginning of the first chapter, the author explains that a dream inspired him to write this book. In the middle of the night, he turned on his bedside lamp and wrote the outline in an matter of minutes. This explains why the book seems so scatterbrained. In one section, Dr. Stanley exhorts the reader to cultivate Godly relationships. In another, he talks about the benefits of keeping your hands off of your face! While this advice isn't bad, it seems like the author was trying to accomplish too many things at once with this book.

How to reach your full potential for God.

This book is a spiritual guide for people who have strayed or thought they have lost their way. Although, I think it would benefit anyone who needed encouragement and help with their own spirituality. I read this during a time of extreme personal trials and although there was a light at the end of the tunnel, it seems to take a lot of time to reach the end. To write a review on something as personal as your walk with God is difficult. Everyone will find something unique and right-on about this book and I think it is important for everyone to read the book and be reminded on what your strengths are. I read this as a guide for how I should live my life and not a reminder of all the ways I have messed up until now. It is natural to stumble and fall but the quicker you pick youself up and get back on track the better you will be. I would highly recommend it!

In "How to Reach Your Full Potential for God" Charles Stanley attempts to give readers some essential truths to help them see their lives differently and move in the direction of growth and meaning. These truths include:

Essential 1: Having a clean heart
Essential 2: Having a clear mind
Essential 3: Using your gifts
Essential 4: Having a healthy body
Essential 5: Having right relationships
Essential 6: Having a balanced schedule
Essential 7: Taking God-approved risks

Stanley's insights seem genuine and there is nothing theological wrong with his message. However, there is also nothing new or insightful in this book. It is possible that I am just tired of all the complexities of Christianity being boiled down into 5 easy steps, 7 lessons, 11 programs, etc.

Stanley seems to be a bit of a workaholic and sometimes his writing is repetitive. That being said his heart's message is a good one and he is attempting to aid so many who are aimless with finding an aim. That is extremely beneficial and for some could be essential and helpful.

The book seemed light on scriptural backup to Stanley's positions. It also seemed to include many over simplifications or generalization. If you are big fan of Stanley then you will likely enjoy this. However if you are looking for something meatier, keep looking.

Dr. Stanley is a dynamic Christian teacher, a prolific, if a bit repetitious writer, and apparently a bit of a workaholic. He has covered basically the same material rather well in previous works... and also in DVD and CD series...and I personally prefer to listen to or watch his teachings. In this book he does a thoroughly and biblically sound topical study of finding and doing God's Will for our lives as disciples of Jesus.
May God bless Dr. Stanley and all of you seeking the Lord's will.

In his new book, published by Thomas Nelson, Charles Stanley hits another home run. How to Reach Your Full Potential for God comes across as a personal, inspirational and meaningful charge to Christians.

In a world where laziness and apathy reign, even among Christ-followers, this book challenges Christians to do something. Failure is a part of life, and Stanley points out that we have to use our failures as a means to finding the path God has created for us.

This book is one that I will no doubt come back to many times over the course of my life as a source of encouragement during those times when confidence is low and frustration is high.

I was able to review this book as a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program [...]

I wanted to like this book. I really did. Early in my Christian pilgrimage, Charles Stanley's teaching helped me tremendously. Not only was I looking forward to reading from Stanley, but I also have a keen interest in this topic. After reading it, I came away disappointed.

In the first chapter of How to Reach Your Full Potential for God: Never Settle for Less Than His Best, Stanley provides the background for the book. He was sleeping and awakened in the middle of the night with a burning question, Do you want to reach your full potential? He subsequently jotted down what he believed God was speaking to him about this topic,

If you truly want to reach your full potential, you must have a clean heart, a clear mind, a balanced schedule.

If I had stopped at the end of the first short chapter, I would have been fine. Indeed, a clean heart, a clear mind and a balanced schedule are important and it was great to be reminded of these. To reach our full potential for God, Stanley breaks the book down into 7 essential elements:

Essential 1: Having a clean heart
Essential 2: Having a clear mind
Essential 3: Using your gifts
Essential 4: Having a healthy body
Essential 5: Having right relationships
Essential 6: Having a balanced schedule
Essential 7: Taking God-approved risks

In and of itself, this is a good list. However, the development of these essentials creates some problems for me. Here are some of the problems I have with the book.

Stanley writes about having the mind of Christ. This is good. But his discussion of this raised more questions than provided answers. He warns against the wisdom of the world. In the early part of the book, he places the mind of Christ in stark contrast to the wisdom of the world. Again, this is good. However, much of the remainder of the book is simply a rehashed Dr. Phil type of self-help.

It was worth noting that Stanley refers to a book (p. 224) that he read annually because of the wisdom in the book. Perhaps you will be as surprised as I at which book that is. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Not exactly the book that coincides with the distinction to have the mind of Christ instead of the wisdom of the world.

In fact, Stanley goes further in promoting self-help books in general:

I do not at all criticize the category of books that people call self-help. We all need help...These books can provide practical advice and inspiration for pursuing one's God-given potential (p. 225).

He spends more time relating these principles to the teachings of Jesus. However, when Stanley gives his practical steps to reaching your full potential for God, he provides only cursory notes of key aspects while spending a great deal of time on less than biblical concepts.

For example, we should avoid touching our face with our hands. We should wash our hands often and long enough (sing Happy Birthday through twice to make sure your hands are clean.

Stanley also rehashes some of the culturally conservative litany of don'ts without providing any biblical support.

Some of his advice simply isn't practical unless you are the pastor of a megachurch like he is. In my work and in my home, I don't have the option of delegating some of the things that need to be done. So, when he writes of his decision to be driven around Atlanta instead of having to deal with city traffic, it just doesn't compute.

In the end, this book doesn't deliver on the title. I wish that it had. I still like Stanley, but wish for consistency with regard to what really is biblical teaching.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson.

Charles Stanley lays out seven essentials to an abundant life in his book How to Reach Your Full Potential for God. God wants you to have a life full of purpose that he has specifically planned out for you--"You are not here by accident...You are here to accomplish a job that God assigned to you from eternity past."

The world will lose out on your contribution should you settle for less than God's best in your life. You will also miss out on the exhilaration of reaching your full potential. In each chapter, Stanley provides a clear biblical path to fulfilling your potential. You would do well to follow this path to experience the joy, peace, and love that God has waiting for you.

For the most part, Stanley is successful in challenging the Christian to go further in his or her walk. One of the major positive notes of the book is his emphasis on taking risks and continuing the on-going task, because truly, the best is yet to come.

This book was a very good read. Easy flow through the book and super helpful. Dr. Charles Stanley writes as well as he preaches! Full of practical information on things one must be doing in his life in order to achieve his full potential for Christ. Great practical help, along with Scripture to back it up. Would be great for the new Believer and also good reminder for Christians to help get them back on track. Highly recommend!

This book is from a fine Christian disciple whose many gifts include writing. It offers bible based "lessons" to give the novice, and long time Christian tools to reach the potential that God wants us to realize.
In some sections, it is more conservative in theology than I am , but still a worthwhile read.

How to Reach Your Full Potential for God
By: Charles F. Stanley

Let me begin, in full disclosure, by saying that I am not a fan of self-help books. On the surface this book seems to speak to our spirit in an effort to go "all out" or be completely "sold out" to Christ so that we might meet the fullest potential and worth that He has for us in this life. In reality; however, this book points to our carnal man and attempts to give us five-to-ten steps to living the perfect life that God has for us.

There is no real problem with books like this. I'm sure somewhere, someone can and does live that sort of "sing-songy" lifestyle that can be perfectly ordered and perfectly structured. There is also nothing wrong with the advice given by Dr. Stanley. How do you maximize your effectiveness in this life? Well, you do it by being in right relationship with God, and then by maintaining a healthy, balanced life.

The problem, of course, does surface when it comes to application. Jesus didn't preach a happy twelve step program that consisted of eating right and getting enough sleep. Instead, He gave his life in a brutal, bloody public murder. That is also the same fate that met his twelve disciples, with the exception of John. This doesn't even scratch the surface of the countless martyrs that have sacrificed "living a balanced life" to sneak Bibles in communist countries so that someone might be saved.

Am I saying that everyone is called to be a martyr? Obviously not. I'm simply suggesting that Dr. Stanley could have wrapped his book up into a simple idea. How do you reach your full potential for God? Simply obey His plan for you, and follow it full throttle. That's how the disciples did it, even though several of them doubted and failed several times first.

My pastor recently preached a sermon. He talked about how ships at sea used to sail under a flag or a set of colors. When ships would battle each other at sea, a sign of surrender was when the vessel pulled their colors down from the mast. This would indicate to the other vessel that the towel was thrown in and they were surrendering themselves. The story goes; however, that certain captains, before entering into battle, would ask their crew just how far they were willing to go to get the victory. If the crew agreed that they would stop at nothing to win the battle, then they would nail the colors to the mast. No matter how hard the battle waged, or how certain defeat was, they would not give up because their colors were nailed to the mast. How do you get to your full potential in Christ? You nail your colors to the mast, and you refuse to give up. Sure living a balanced, healthy life might help, but those are byproducts of keeping your eye fixed on the horizon and pushing forward despite the battle!

Keep in mind, this is merely my humble opinion.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Charles Stanley puts the information in this book about reaching your potential for God in very easy to follow practical steps. If you want to live for your godly purpose and wonder what that is you would find great help by this book.

I truly enjoyed this book by Charles F. Stanley. He really gets right to the point and asks the most important questions. 1. Are you just settling? 2. What is God's purpose in your life?

Then he really dives deep to look at all the obstacles that stand in our way of reaching our full potential. The first and probably greatest obstacle is Have you asked God what He has put you here for? Without knowing that how can you strive to reach your potential for Him?

Fluff.

That's what I think after reading Charles Stanley's new book How to Reach Your Full Potential for God: Never Settle for Less Than His Best.

I really didn't like the book. Oh, sure. There were some valid points made. In fact, Stanley lays out seven essentials necessary in order to reach your full potential: a clean heart; a clear mind; using your gifts; a healthy body; right relationships; a balanced schedule; and taking God-approved risks.

I agree that each of these seven areas are necessary for growth. However, Stanley's writing style made me feel a little like I was an elementary student sitting in the principal's office. I don't feel like it helped me to grow much at all. That's disappointing to me.

I did my best to milk what I could out of it. And I will readily admit that Stanley makes some valid points. But maybe it's his writing style; I felt like he was "talking down" at the reader.

If you are a new believer, then How To Reach Your Full Potential For God may be more helpful for you. Otherwise, I don't recommend that you read it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their[...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Charles Stanley is a well known and respected author, theologian, and pastor. Reaching Your Full Potential for God is the latest in the large stack of Stanley books that he has authored through the years. A quick the store search yields 60 books on his author page.

In the middle of the night, God spoke to Charles Stanley and said "If you truly want to reach your full potential, you must have a clean heart, a clear mind, and a balanced schedule". The result is the book I hold in my hands, in which Stanley unpacks these three concepts.

These are hardly new or groundbreaking concepts so it was difficult to see how How to Reach your Full Potential for God (Hereto referred to as HTRYFPFG) could stand out in the myriad of self-help Christian literature. In the end, there are some good and bad things about the book. However, the good in the book is done far better elsewhere, and the bad is troubling enough for me to not recommend this book.

The main problem with HTRYFPFG is that it stays far too general and far too simplistic. This paragraph is a good example of what is maddening about this book. In the section about having a clear mind, Stanley says,

"Avoid ungodly jokes and stories. Your mind can become cluttered very quickly if
you listen to and repeat what is lewd, crude, or demeaning. Don't listen to or
use racial slurs. Reject a spirit of criticism toward any group. Avoid judging
people based on their gender, mental ability, physical disability, economic
status, or any outward trait. Don't speak ill of people becuase of their
personal attributes or physical characteristics.".
You hopefully see what I mean. This type of writing is tedious and doesn't change lives.

There were also many times Stanley left me scratching my head. He instructs the reader to literally ask 6 different questions every time a thought comes into your mind to see if you should be thinking that. Can you imagine actually doing that? Along with this is the problem of Stanley's view of finding God's will. Stanley seems to advocate an approach that keeps you from doing anything until you get confirmation from God that it is His will. This sounds holy but in the end, it is incredibly crippling and leaves people looking for "signs" at every corner and needing to experience "liver quivers" before they do anything. We end up seeing God's will as the bullseye of an elusive target and if we don't hit it just right we are not going to be blessed by God. I do not think this is what the Scriptures teach. We end up taking the special occasions where God has worked that way and say that it is normative. What is left out of this picture is the process of sanctification where we grow in Christlikeness and wisdom and we can discern the paths to take. A much better book to read about this subject would be "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung.

Furthermore, Stanley advocates that if you're doing God's will, whatever you do will find success. This is incredibly dangerous. It may be God's design for you to take up a pastorate in a church and then it closes in 5 years because you were faithful to the scriptures. Is that "success"? I wouldn't say so, but that's not to say that it was exactly what God wanted.

The entire concept of finding YOUR potential and YOU wanting to experience God's best for YOU that we see just on the book's jacket should cause us to pause. We need to be able to say that even if it leads us to utter destruction in the eyes of man...even if we don't "feel" close to God, even in the good times and the bad, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Dr. Stanley surely meant well with this book, but he writes in a horribly patronizing manner which lessens the impact of his statements. The book is written in a muted manner. And, for an author who continually counsels the reader to look in the Bible as a means of finding strength and support, there are surprisingly few references from the Bible in this book. That's what happens when you write a self-help book and erase just enough of the edges of it to make it appear as a Christian book.

On the positive side: Dr. Stanley gives a message of hope and encouragement. But it's so bland and muted, hidden behind his speciously lucid writing style, that the overall effect is lessened. Nonetheless, if you like a low-key way of using the Bible and prayer for self-actualization, then this may be the book to guide you on that quest.

This book walks you through the process of realizing your full potential for God. The workbook is a great companion to this book. I highly recommend these as tools to help you realize God's will for your life.

How to Reach Your Full Potential for God by Charles Stanley aims to guide Christians into a process of self examination about whether they are living the life God planned for them to live, and encourages Christians to live abundantly while aligning their life with the purposes of God.

When I read the description of Charles Stanley's How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, I was really excited. Doesn't everyone want to reach their full potential? I know I do, and I was open for any help to make sure I don't miss the mark. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Stanley has a lot of great biblical points in his book, but overall any revelation I would have received seemed to get lost among the hundreds of questions he asks the reader. It got to a point where I felt hammered by self-examination questions. The purpose of the book did not match the delivery and after reading it I felt overwhelmed by having to achieve every one of Stanley's 7 steps in order to reach my full potential. I guess I was hoping this book would not be another "do these 10 things and you will arrive"...I was wrong.

Stanley is a great man of God and a great preacher, but not all preachers should necessarily be writers.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I have really struggled writing this review. I admit I have very mixed feeling on this book. At first, I really did not like it. It took me a long time to read the book, not because it was difficult to read but because it just didn't grab me. I really didn't find myself interested in it at all. I found his writing style to be very basic, almost like it was intended for a junior high Sunday School class. He seems to avoid theological terms at all cost and often over-illustrates his point. One illustration is helpful, more than that is simply annoying.

However, once I finished the book I found it kept coming back to me. I have really been looking at the daily events in my life and thinking "What would God have me do here? How can I use this to glorify God? Am I reaching my full potential in this area of my life?"

After much thought and prayer I've realized that if you like self help/motivational books you will probably love this one. I'm someone who prefers to approach these things through biblical exegesis and the teaching of sound doctrine, so to me this book read like a 1980's self-help book. However, there is value in that.

Bottom line: if you like self help, you will love this book. If you are looking for something deeper, you might find it hard to read, but there is a valuable message for all Christians in this book.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book, however that in no way influenced my opinion of it.

How to Reach your Full Potential for God - by Charles F. Stanley
Review by Nancy Kvamme

"How to Reach Your Full Potential" was a great and quick read. It consists of 7 principles to an abundant life. Along with the biblical path to fulfilling your God-given potential there are also practical ideas to live a fulfilled life.

A few of the principles are to have a healthy body and healthy relationships. Also, to be at your best is to have a balanced schedule. Time is irreplaceable so you have to make a conscious decision of how you want to spend the time you have. For many people it is hard to say no but sometimes you have to, to have a less stressed life. It is our natural instinct to always be available to help others but to be our best we have to do what is best for ourselves.

I read this book while on vacation and helped me work through some things I had been struggling with.

I would highly recommend "How to Reach Your Full Potential" to assist you in living the life of your dreams.

I have done several Charles Stanley Bible studies and this may be the best so far. Mr. Stanley never disappoints, he encourages you to be honest with yourself and find answers that will help you connect with God on a personal level. In this book he will help you to pray more by guiding you to ask the right questions of God. He will also show you how to model your life to better serve God. If you are ready to increase your service to God and to be a better Christian, this book will help you to do just that.

Charles Stanley zeroes in on seven essentials that we must have in order to reach out full potential in God. They are so basic that it seems that most Christians would already be doing these things. But they/we are not. These essentials are things that Christians struggle with on a daily basis. You may feel convicted in some areas, but Dr. Stanley uplifts you and motivates you to get it right.

If I cannot make it to my own service I will watch Charles Stanley on TV. He is definitely anointed in the Word. I recommend this book for great encouragement to your daily walk.

Donnica Copeland