Limitless

My God will never leave me nor forsake me (Dt 31:8). I am grateful that I can call on Him at any time.  However, I want a fuller relationship with Him than one in which I call on His presence when I need Him.

My Lord is a gentleman.  He does not force Himself upon me.  He is the all powerful king of heaven and earth and can do whatever He wants but because He unconditionally loves me, He constrains Himself to honor me, to honor my wishes, to honor my boundaries.

I want no boundaries with my God. I want full immersion in the limitless abyss of His love.  I want my life to be abandonment of all else to be one with all that is my Lord. If this requires the process I am living, let the process be quick, God.

Holy Spirit teach me to be aware of limits I may place upon the freedom I allow God in me, around me and through me. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my understanding to embrace truth.

Your will be done, Lord, on earth as it is in heaven - Your kingdom manifest fully on earth.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

I Am a Fruit Bearer

God’s love in me is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  Jesus assures in John 15:4 that I will bear the fruit of God’s love as I remain in Him: 

“Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 AMP)

This love doesn’t depend upon anyone’s actions toward me. I make the decision that remaining in God and bearing His love is my chosen lifestyle. I don’t always hit the mark, but the Holy Spirit teaches me and encourages me in this process of growth.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Faith Hope Love

1 Corinthians 13 (known as the love chapter) ends by teaching that faith, hope and love remain and the greatest of these is love. 

This is how I check my love for others:

1) Do I have faith in them? Hebrews 11:1 teaches that faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Do I see as reality the good God created in others (though it may not be apparent at the moment)?

2) Do I have hope for them? Do I live in expectancy that positive change can occur in people at any time?

3) Do I show love? If I have faith and hope, I desire to do good toward someone. I don’t want to “do good” out of a desire to people-please or fix someone’s life. The truth of God’s love is so much greater than what my mind could imagine love to be.  I need to be Spirit-led.  Sometimes I am to show love through prayer, an act only God sees.

Fulfilling others expectations is not love. Showing the love of God goes above and beyond expectations. The acts of love shown through God’s love honestly meet the needs of giver and receiver.

By the way, I also apply faith, hope and love to myself.  I am to love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:39).

I LOVE THIS LIFE!

Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith

Stuck in Religion?

When I was younger that I felt I couldn’t do something because, as a Christian, I had been taught it was wrong.  As I was praying during one of these times, it dawned on me that God doesn’t run a prison. I was free to do what I wanted.

The question was – what did I really want?

I scheduled some alone time and researched possible consequences. The process taught me a lot and was liberating as I carefully weighed pros and cons.

I could do this because I'm not stuck in some religious prison.  Jesus died to set me free!  My relationship with Him certainly influences my actions, but He is not a dictator forcing me to behave in a certain way. 

Of course, one of the blessings of this life is that I have access to the wisdom of the ages (thank you Holy Spirit).  It’s certainly a wisdom I’d want to access during my decision-making.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith
Note:  This blogpost was drawn from a response I made to a comment on my post entitled Restraint

Do you need help?

I was codependent most of my life.  One characteristic I had as a codependent was the need to help fix other people's problems.  I always thought I was doing a good thing.  When I saw my "help" for what it was, I saw pride and disrespect.  What made me think I had all the answers? What made me think someone wasn't capable of solving their own problems without hearing my opinion? 

I now always point to God as the answer to every issue.  His wisdom is always available.*  I desire to limit my words and actions to God's leading, even as Jesus did.  I help as I am led, knowing that God's answer to someone's need is so much greater than any answer I could produce. 

I love this life.

*James 1:5 (NIV) - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Reactions

Sometimes I will react in a way that leaves me amazed at the wonderful changes God has wrought in me.  Sometimes...I react as the child I was.  

Oftentimes the childish reaction is so practiced, I don't even notice it doesn't line up with who I have become.  

Holy Spirit, point those old reactions out to me.  I know I have been set free from my past. 

"So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free." (John 8:36 Amplified)

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Walls

Hurts in my past left me trusting no one.  I labored over my protective walls adding to their thickness, berating myself when new hurts broke through.  As my walls thickened my life within withered.  In my attempt to survive, I was meticulously creating my tomb. 

But God is life.  He had started a good work in me and He brings His work to completion.  He is the author and finisher of my faith.  I simply had to allow God to do His thing.

Simply?

I had worked hard building my walls.  I felt exposed and vulnerable when letting them go. 

But God is my protection and living freely is divine. 

I love this life!

Copyright 2012
Leah Lambert Smith

I Will Not Be Lion Food

1 Peter 5:6-9 AMP

6) Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 

7) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 

8) Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

9) Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.  

I will not be lion food.  I will immediately cast my care.

I want to be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), vigilant and cautious as 1 Peter 5:8 requires and firm in faith [rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined] as 1 Peter 5:9 requires.  One choice that I know will help me to be consistently strong is the choice to humbly cast my care upon God. 

Carrying care slows me down and weakens me.  My pride will stop my progress altogether by throwing a why-me pity party as if my cares are so unique, no one on earth could possibly deal with them.  Lions seek the weak and slow as easy prey.

In 1 Peter 5:7, the word translated casting implies a sudden motion.  My pride wants to control and deal with the problems of my life, only relinquishing them when all attempts to do so fail.   When I immediately throw my care on God, my strength remains consistent.

I will not be lion food.  I will immediately cast my care upon God

I love this life!

Copyright 2011  Leah Lambert Smith