Are You Limiting God?
The Boundless God and the Danger of Limits
There is a profound tension in the spiritual journey, a daily wrestling match between what we know about God’s greatness and what we believe about His power to move in our lives. We profess, with our lips and hearts, that God is unlimited, sovereign, and all-powerful. Yet deep inside, when faced with trials, silence, or unanswered prayers, we hesitate. We hedge our bets. We quietly set invisible fences around God’s activity. We limit Him without realizing it.
This tension is not new. The psalmist reminds us of God’s limitless nature in Psalm 147:5, saying, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” In Hebrew, the phrase for “no limit” is אֵין מִסְפָּר (ein mispar), literally “without number” or “beyond counting.” This word paints a picture of the infinite, the unmeasurable, uncontainable nature of God’s wisdom. It echoes through the ancient texts as a reminder that God’s knowledge surpasses every calculation, every strategy, every hope or fear.
Yet, Israel’s own story reflects a tragic pattern of limiting God. As they journeyed through the wilderness, facing hunger, thirst, and enemy threats, their hearts often failed to trust God’s promises. The psalmist laments in Psalm 78:41, “Again and again they put God to the test and limited the Holy One of Israel.” The Hebrew verb used here, תָּוָה (tavah), means “to inscribe boundaries,” “to set limits.” It’s as if they drew lines in the sand and said, “God, you may only go so far.”
This is the quiet danger for all of us, drawing mental and spiritual fences that keep God confined to what seems “reasonable,” “safe,” or “possible.” It is unbelief, though often disguised as caution or realism. But Scripture is clear: unbelief is a form of idolatry because it substitutes God’s power and character with human limits.
The danger of limiting God is more than just lost blessings. It dulls our faith, stunts our spiritual growth, and ultimately robs the world of the full display of God’s glory. But the good news is that God’s power is not just theoretical, it is alive, dynamic, and ready to be unleashed in our lives today.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” The Greek word for “immeasurably more” is ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ (hyper-ek-perissou), layered with meaning, more than abundant, surpassing all excess, far beyond human comprehension.
Not only is this power immeasurable, it is also at work within us. The same divine power that raised Christ from the dead (Greek: ἐξ νεκρῶν, ex nekrōn) lives in the believer, working actively to transform, empower, and overcome.
This is the God we serve, the boundless, uncontainable God who refuses to be limited by human fear or circumstance.
Are You Limiting God?
Biblical Testimonies of God’s Unbounded Power and Faith That Breaks Barriers)
To understand the true nature of God’s limitless power, we must look closely at His mighty works in Scripture, moments when the impossible was made possible and human limitations were shattered by divine intervention.
Consider Moses standing before the Red Sea with the Israelites trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the impassable waters. The situation was hopeless by all natural standards. Yet God commanded Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. When he obeyed, the waters parted, creating a completely and totally dry path through the impossible (Exodus 14:21–22). This was no trick of nature; it was the supernatural breaking through the natural, revealing the God whose power knows no bounds.
This event is echoed prophetically in the New Testament. The apostle Paul reminds the early church in 1 Corinthians 10:1–2 that the Israelites passed through the sea “by a cloud and by the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” It was not merely a physical deliverance but a spiritual demonstration of God’s power to overcome barriers and bring His people into freedom.
Another powerful example is the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). You know the story. Here, a young shepherd boy faced a giant armed with sword and spear. All Israel’s army trembled, but David’s faith in God’s power enabled him to slay the giant with a single sling stone. The Hebrew word for “giant,” גָּלְיָת (Golyat), has become synonymous with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Yet God’s power does not rest on human might but on His Spirit (זְרוֹעַ , zeroa, the outstretched arm). David’s trust shattered the mental and physical limits that the army accepted as reality.
Faith like David’s is not a mystical force reserved for a select few; it is the mustard seed faith that Jesus describes in Matthew 17:20. The mustard seed, זַרְעַת הַחַרְדָּל (zar’at ha-chardal), is tiny, almost invisible, but contains the potential for remarkable growth. Jesus said that if we have faith as small as this seed, we can move mountains. Mountains here symbolize the barriers and impossible challenges in our lives and the world.
This faith is not passive. It acts. It speaks. It steps into the unknown. It does not limit God but invites His power to flow unhindered.
The apostle Hebrews summarizes faith’s essential role in pleasing God: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). The Greek word for faith here, πίστις (pistis), conveys trust, conviction, and loyalty. It’s a confident reliance on God’s character and promises, even when circumstances seem contrary.
Faith is a muscle that strengthens with use. It grows when exercised by obedience and trust. When we choose to believe God’s power is active in us, we begin to live beyond our limits.
Are You Limiting God?
Breaking Free: How to Stop Limiting God and Live in His Full Power
Limiting God is not just an abstract spiritual error, it has real consequences in our daily lives. When we hold back faith or shrink our prayers because of fear or unbelief, we close the door to the abundant life God desires to pour through us. We settle for less than the full measure of His blessing and power.
This was the silent struggle of the Israelites who, despite witnessing miracles, repeatedly doubted God’s provision and protection. Their unbelief was not only a personal failing; it affected the entire community and prolonged their wilderness wandering.
You and I face similar temptations. We may say, “God, if you do this one thing, I’ll be satisfied,” while ignoring the limitless scope of His ability. We box God into our own understanding and fear. Yet the Word invites us to repent of this limitation.
Paul’s letter to the Romans offers profound encouragement: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). The Hebrew understanding of God as אֵל גִּבּוֹר (El Gibbor), Mighty God, assures us that no enemy or obstacle can thwart His purposes.
Repentance, then, means releasing the grip of limiting thoughts and embracing the truth of God’s sovereignty and love. It means refusing to let fear or past wounds dictate the boundaries of what we expect God to do.
Prayer becomes a battlefield where faith is both tested and strengthened. James exhorts us, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea…” (James 1:6–7). The Greek word for doubt, διακρινόμενος (diakrinomenos), means to be divided, wavering between belief and unbelief.
To break free, we have to take some seriously deliberate steps:
- First, identify the limiting beliefs. What thoughts have taken root that say, “God won’t” or “God can’t”? Write them down and bring them before God’s Word.
- Next, replace those lies with Scriptural truths. Speak aloud the promises that declare God’s power and provision. Declare אֱמֶת (emet), truth over your doubts.
- Act on the last word God gave you, even if it feels small or risky. Obedience is faith in motion.
- Surround yourself with a community that encourages bold faith and challenges small thinking. Fellowship with those who believe God’s best is yet to come.
Remember Mary, who thought her past was a disqualification? When she embraced Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”, the Greek οὐδὲν κατάκριμα (ouden katakrima) freed her from the prison of self-limitations. She stepped into new life, letting God’s power flow through her weaknesses.
This is the power available to all who believe, not just ancient heroes, but you and me today.
Are You Limiting God?
Living Unbound—Hope, Readiness, and the King’s Coming
To live free from limiting God means stepping into a life marked by expectancy, courage, and unwavering trust. It means walking with confidence, not because our strength is great, but because the רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ (Ruach HaKodesh), the Holy Spirit, empowers us beyond natural limits.
Jesus encouraged His followers to keep their lamps burning and their wicks trimmed with oil (Matthew 25:1–13), a vivid image of readiness and spiritual vigilance. The oil, שֶׁמֶן (shemen), represents the anointing and presence of God that fuels endurance and supernatural power.
In a world quick to settle for mediocrity or fear, God calls His people to anticipate the miraculous. The promise of Ephesians 3:20 echoes like a trumpet: God will do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Our prayers, our faith, our hopes are just the beginning of what He is ready to accomplish.
This is a kingdom mindset, where the impossible is not just possible but expected; because God reigns without limit. It is a daily surrender to His חֶסֶד (chesed), steadfast love, and His power at work in us.
As we live unbound by fear or unbelief, we become living testimonies of His glory. Mountains move. Seas part. Giants fall. Lives are transformed. Hearts are healed. Communities are renewed.
So, are you ready to remove the limits you’ve placed on God? Will you step out in faith, trusting not in your own understanding but in the vast, unsearchable wisdom of our Lord?
The King is coming. His power is active within you right now. Keep your lanterns filled, your faith alive, and your heart open.
No more limits. No more fences. Just the boundless, immeasurable God doing His mighty work through you.
image by chatgpt at my direction