Ever had to take a test that you weren't sure you could pass or play a sport you didn't know you could play?  What about being asked to perform a task you didn't feel up to?  We can be our own worst critics!  God knows what you are capable of because He made you.  He knew ever hair on your head before your were born and wrote your life's story before time began.  It makes sense that a God knows THAT much about you would also know what you are capable of.

The Bible is full of people who didn't think they were capable, yet God still called them to amazing things.  Moses was that way.  "What?!  You mean the same Moses that crossed the Red Sea and freed the Hebrew people?!"  Yes, that Moses.  He felt he was too guilty to be used by God.  He had committed sins and didn't talk very well. God's response was strong: "Who placed a mouth on humans?  Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind?  Is it not I, the Lord? Now go!  I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say."

Wow.  God knows exactly how to use us despite the things we aren't very good at.  Jesus also showed that this applies to how other people may criticize you.  Matthew was a tax collector who many thought was too sinful to follow Christ.  And yet, we see that he was one of the main disciples, even writing the most cited story of Jesus' life in the Book of Matthew.  If God can use a man who can't talk to speak to Pharoah, and a social reject to become a disciple, how much more can he do with you?

Think of something physical your child can do each day.  It could be walking a certain distance, doing jumping jacks, or reading books.  Figure out how much they would accomplish in an entire week.  For example, if they can walk a mile each day then they would walk 5 miles in total.  You can have different challenges for each child.

Draw a thermometer (like what is used for fundraising) on a posterboard, chalkboard, or other surface.  Place different lines on the thermometer with "0" at the bottom and the total number of activities your child will accomplish at the top.  In our example of walking 1 mile per day, mark "0" at the bottom and "5" at the top.

On the first day, ask your child if they think they could fill the entire meter all at once.  When they say, "no", tell them you'll do it a little bit at a time.  Each day encourage your children as they work through their challenge and fill up your meter board together.  At the end of the week, celebrate how much they accomplished!  Point out how YOU knew they could do it and that's why YOU challenged them!