the limitation's the limit.

Commercials. I hate them. Sometimes I get those little jingles stuck in my head for days. I hate the Neosporin Band-aid commercial “When you fall always squeeze...then stick!” I hate it for 2 reasons: 1) the song is terrible and I find myself singing it while doing the dishes and 2) the puppeteering is absolutely awful and I can say that because I am a puppeteer and I know of what I speak. But I guess I can’t really hate on it because the advertisement is clearly effective. 

I’ve never really considered billboards very effective, mostly because I’m the one driving and I never see them because I’m watching the road, ensuring the safety of society at large...like any competent passerby, hence, it’s ineffectiveness. However, I had an experience with one just the other day that has continued to plague my mind. The billboard was simple and all it said was...

“‘What would you attempt for Me if you knew you could not fail?’ -God”

Wow. I have no idea what this “advertisement” was actually for, but I was totally taken aback by this. But once the contemplation process started, I was challenged. I hate failure. I shy away from things that have the potential to make me be even slightly unsuccessful. I mean, I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses, and I’m not going to run with something that’s strongest requirement is my biggest weakness. Let’s be realistic...that’s just not gonna happen. 

I guess you could say that I let my perceptions of my own limitations be my limitation. I let my weaknesses govern what I’m willing and able to do. But I serve an infallible God. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.” This is a great verse and I always use it to bring immediate encouragement to my life or to others...but what if I actually started living this lifestyle? 

And then I started thinking about how my dreams would differ if I truly believed that I could not fail. Would I dare to dream the impossible? What have I already labeled as ‘impossible’? By limiting myself I am limiting God, which seems absurd, but it entirely true. God wants to work through me, but only through what I allow Him to. God is such a gentleman, and He will only take and use what I give to Him. So, if I set limits on myself, I set limits on what He is able to accomplish through me. And that’s a serious no-no, but one that I make over and over. 

Don’t let your perceptions of your limitations limit what God can do in you and through you. Abandon yourself to Him. Toss away your limits. Your God is limitless. Do you think He made you to be limited? To be kept in a box? Quit being your own hinderance. Keep dreaming, because the One who gives you dreams is the One Who will give you all that you need to see it become your reality.