Embracing the Gift of Limits

Fully Alive – Living the abundant life in Christ from the inside out.

Embracing the Gift of Limits: We were made to live free within the God-given boundaries of His grace and design.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10b

 Your boundarylines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:6

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

1.        “A core mark of emotionally healthy discipleship is a deep theological and practical understanding of limits. Without that, (Scazzero argues) we severely compromise our ability to love God, ourselves and others over the long haul.  Healthy limits are important in every area of life—be it the workplace, parenting, marriage, friendships, or dating and…” (I will add, ourselves – body, soul and spirit). 

“Limits are a deeply spiritual issue. When we surrender to them, we acknowledge that we are not God.” -Scazzero, 90.

We are not GOD!

God is UN -limited! He has no limits.   

GOD IS:

·      Omniscient: All-knowing,

·      Omnipotent: All-powerful

·      Omnipresent: Present everywhere

·      Omnibenevolent: Perfectly good

He is also: Eternal: Existing outside of time, with no beginning and no end.

• Immutable: Unchanging in character, will, nature, and promises.

• Sovereign: Holding absolute supreme authority and control over the universe.

• Triune: Existing eternally as one God in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• Self-Existent: Requiring no external cause, source, or creator to exist (aseity).

 He has no limit – and this is good news! 

A breakthrough is a holy disruption. It is the moment God steps into your routine and rewrites your trajectory." — Louie Giglio

What are some of the Limits of your life?

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 3 “There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:” Ecclesiastes 3:1

WHY is it important understand and embrace our own personal limits?

1.     It humbles us – 1 Peter 5:5b “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” It shows us our dependency on God. God gives us grace for the things he has called us to. 

2.     It brings spiritual and emotional maturity – Ephesians 4 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching … 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15

3.      Helps us love God, ourselves and others well – Greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength, and love neighbor as yourself.” If you are not loving yourself (caring for yourself spiritually emotionally and physically), how will you be able to love and care for anyone else?   You are the only one who can do it!! NO ONE ELSE CAN! 

4.     It grows ALL the fruit of the spirit in our lives:

a.     Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

5. It protects us from becoming toxic and emotionally unhealthy which leads to Burnout. Burnout is real.  And it takes people out of the race. I’ve seen it over and over again.

How can we embrace our limits to live FULLY? Let’s look to Jesus – the ultimate example of living a life fully embracing human limits yet walking in divine purpose and timing.

1.     Take Care and nourish your spirit, soul and body. Go back to the Source and find rest and refreshment and identity.  – Jesus always took time with the Father, he stepped away from the ministry and crowds and needs and expectations of the people to be with the Father!

2.     Set limits on unhealthy relationships and activities.  Jesus didn’t let everyone follow him.  He let people make their own choices and stuck to what God was calling him to do. (He pulled away when he needed to). He shut down combative, non-helpful arguments. READ THE BOUNDARIES BOOK by Townsend and Cloud.

3.     Learn to say an anointed and well-placed NO.  -Jesus didn’t go to Lazarus right away – he delayed.  And in God’s timing – Jesus came and a breakthrough happened – Lazarus was raised from the dead.  NO gives way to the right YES!

4.        Model and teach healthy boundaries – Jesus didn’t rush. JESUS: lived a life within the limits of the human experience – he was fully God, and yet he took on a geographical limit, a genealogical limit, a time limit and a capacity limit.  He slept and ate and spent time alone.  He WALKED or boated almost everywhere.  He was not in a rush – but “finished the work” his Father sent him to do in THREE YEARS!

---Prioritize life in the right order: Your relationship with God, your spouse, the care and provision emotionally and spiritually and physically for your family, then work obligations and everything else.  This gives permission for others to also have healthy boundaries.