Day 28: Pushing the limits...

Hopefully during the past 27 days you have been challenged by God to do something different.  Maybe even joining in with the Love 40 days journey was a challenge to you for one reason or another.  Sometimes we think we know what we are good at, what we are called to do, and we stick to it.  There is nothing wrong with utilising the natural gifts that God has given us, but sometimes sticking to what we know is just playing it safe.  And playing it safe means we miss out on allowing God to do things - showing up with that power along the way that we were thinking about earlier this week.

Philippians 4:13 says this: "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."  It does not say: I can do the things I am already good at.  It does not say: I can do the things that I am comfortable with.  It says: I can do everything.

We can love in extreme, extravagant ways through Christ, who gives us strength.  We can love people we find difficult or people who have hurt us through Christ, who gives us strength.  We can keep loving even though we are tired or have had a bad day through Christ, who gives us strength.

And sometimes we need to do things that are completely beyond us - so that we are really doing them through Christ, who gives us strength.

Watch this video today to be inspired and see what God can do when ordinary Jesus-following people allow themselves to be pushed to the limit.  Be challenged by what you see.  Our God is the God of the Bible.  We can trust that when He pushes our limits, He will give us the strength to do everything.

Pray today that you would be strengthened by Jesus and talk to God about any areas that He might be wanting to push your limits as you seek to love others.

For the kids:
Philippians 4:13 says this: "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."  Sometimes we only do things that we know we can do well.  We don't need to be afraid of doing the difficult things that God asks us to do because Jesus will always help us.  If your children can sit through a four minute video, it is worth watching today's link.  Otherwise, talk about some of the thing that God calls us to which we can't do by ourselves - including some of the ways He calls us to love others.  Pray that Jesus would give us strength.  Then talk together about some things that the kids would love to be able to do for others to show them that Jesus loves them.  Let them dream big!  And, if appropriate, pray for God's wisdom and guidance and consider actually doing some of them!