Very few things about father-hood break my heart like hearing my 2 year old say “I can’t do it.” Now, I realize that many times it is just him being a 2 year old, (he’s in the stage where his answer to most things is “no.”) but everything in me wants to make sure my son knows that he can do anything he puts his mind too. Even more important than his strength is the fact that the bible promises us that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13)

Last night I started to explain this to Brody and started to make him repeat Philippians 4:13 every time he says the phrase “I can’t.”

You may think this is a little excessive. After all, he is just saying it to get out of cleaning his room or moving things back to where they should be… or going potty on the “big boy potty,” but there is a slippery slope that I don’t want him to even get close to. I want him to see an obstacle and know that he is a child of God and face it with confidence knowing he can do it. (And that he’s a child of Brandon Liebe, but that slightly less significant in this situation)

I think we as Christians fall into this trap too often. Excuses are easy and readily available. Most people won’t even second-guess you if you have a good enough excuse. But have you noticed how many action words there are in the Bible? God knew every time he inspired one of those words to be written that we would want to do what was easiest for us, but he made it very clear, He gives us the strength to do it all.

It’s time for us as Christians to remove the phrase “I can’t” from our vocabulary. I’m sure our heavenly father looks down on us the same why I do to my son when I hear him say it. I promise that in those moments God is looking at you saying

“You have no idea the things I can do through you. Take away the excuse and don’t sell yourself, or my power in you, short. You can do anything because I will give you the strength!”