Surpassing Personal Limits

Behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

─ Exodus 3:9-11 ESV

Most of us have goals for our lives. The problem is 95% of us never really reach those goals because we all have a self-imposed, personal limit that we struggle to get beyond.

Moses’ story in the Bible beautifully illustrates just how that can happen. God gets Moses’ attention when he encounters God in a burning bush that isn’t consumed by the fire. God gives Moses a goal—an opportunity to do the very thing he was put on the planet to do (Exodus 3:9-10). In the midst of that incredible moment “Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).

God revealed to Moses the very reason he was born and yet, Moses gives God excuses for why he can’t possibly pursue God’s goal for his life. Moses has reached his self-imposed, personal limit.

This was God’s goal; it wasn’t Moses’ goal. If our goal is not God’s goal, we’re dead in the water! We must not allow self-imposed limits to keep us from pursuing God’s goals.

Moses’ self-imposed limits come back to his head, his heart and his hands. He didn’t have to figure out what would please God. God had told him specifically what He wanted him to do. He just needed to do it, and yet he offered excuses. “Then Moses answered and said, but suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice?” (Exodus 4:1). His argument came from his head, “I don’t know enough.” Many of us limit ourselves from pursuing the goal that God has placed in our life because we believe we don’t know enough.” Moses pleaded with God to send someone else and that says, “I don’t care enough.”

One of the reasons we don’t pursue the goals that God desires for us is because our hearts are not ready. We don’t have enough passion. Finally, Moses tells God that he doesn’t speak well, or “I can’t do enough.”

We can place a personal limit on what God can do in our lives when we refuse to know enough, care enough or do enough. Let me show you exactly what happens. We begin our journey pursuing God’s goal; we reach our personal limit and we talk ourselves into settling for less than God intended for our lives.

We must be willing to grow beyond our personal limits. Here are three things to consider as you ask God to show you why you’ve been placed on the planet.

• Your goal must involve your purpose.
• Make sure your goal is making a difference in someone’s life.
• See your goal as an opportunity and not a threat.

Today’s One Thing

Are you ready to stretch yourself and pursue the goal God has for your life? Review the three things to consider bullet points above. Pray and ask God to show you why you’ve been placed on the planet. And refuse not to settle for less than God’s full intention for your life.

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