dependence – Smith For Christ Blog

Authority, Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, Identity in Christ

Luke 9 — Following Jesus When the Definitions Change

By Eddie / January 27, 2026 / Leave a Comment / Authority, Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, Identity in Christ / authority, comfort, control, counterintuitive truth, daily self-denial, dependence, directional faith, discipleship, faithfulness, following Jesus, God's sustainance, humility, identity, integrity, Luke 9, obedience, power, reflection, responsibility, safety nets, security, supplies, surrender, theoretical faith, uncomfortable truths, vocation

In Luke 9, Jesus challenges us to trade our modern notions of power and security for a life of humility and obedience. As followers, we’re invited to embrace self-denial and dependence on Him, rather than seeking comfort in familiar doctrines. This call to action is not optional; it’s a demand for true discipleship that reshapes our identity. Will you step out on faith, trusting in Jesus’s authority even when it lacks visible guarantees?

Dependency, Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, Humility, Identity in Christ, Perseverance, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering

Why God Rarely Removes Struggle — Even When He Could

By Eddie / January 12, 2026 / Leave a Comment / Dependency, Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, Humility, Identity in Christ, Perseverance, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering / dependence, Faith, faithfulness, God, hope, humility, Prayer, silence, strength, struggle

In the quiet struggle of unanswered prayers, believers find themselves at a crossroads of faith and doubt. Discover why God’s silence is not absence, but a pathway to deeper trust and resilience.

Lukewarm, Self dependency

Lukewarm Isn’t Lazy—It’s Disconnected

By Eddie / January 6, 2026 / Leave a Comment / Lukewarm, Self dependency / Christ, dependence, grace, Laodicea, Lukewarmness, presence, repentance, Revelation 3:16, self-sufficiency, trust

Lukewarm isn’t laziness; it’s living disconnected from Christ. Revelation 3:16 warns against self-sufficiency, urging us to embrace honest dependence. Instead of striving harder, return to fellowship and open the door to grace. What will you do today to move from dependence on fear and control to trust in Christ?