Freedom from limitations

Have you ever stopped to think how many limitations we're faced with every day? Unemployment figures claim that jobs are limited. Inflation figures suggest we can be deprived of legitimate needs. Our age bracket would tell us we're either too old or too young to accomplish a certain task.

These and other limitations really boil down to the belief that we're finite mortal beings, subject to conditions beyond our control. Is this true?

According to the teachings of Christ Jesus, limitations are no part of God's creation. Jesus said, ''With God all things are possible.'' n1

n1 Matthew 19:26.

God and His creation are infinite, unlimited. Man, as the spiritual likeness of God, expresses infinity. To a human, materially based sense of life, such a statement may seem abstract, unrealistic. But we can, by degrees, prove it to be a practical spiritual truth. We don't have to let the illusory walls of limitation keep us from pursuing new ideas, from expecting good, from progressing.

What can we do to break down these mental walls? Through prayer and inspired study of the Bible we can begin to understand ourselves as spiritual beings governed by infinite, all-powerful God. We can gain clearer views of His infinite nature and be willing to be obedient to His direction. We can vehemently deny verdicts of limitation and instead claim our God-given freedom.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, ''When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible.'' n2

n2 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 180.

Recently, I have begun to glimpse this infinite nature of God and prove its practicality. I wanted to be able to make better use of my talents and to contribute more to my job. As I began to pray and to look to God's unlimited government for direction, two new ideas came to me. The first was to pursue a graduate degree and the second was to get this in a completely new field.

When I visited the chairman of a graduate department at a nearby school, I was faced with a basket of limitations. I was told that I was not in time for fall admittance and that no funds were available. Also, the chairman was dubious about my desire to begin a program so different from my undergraduate training. He would, however, accept an application and references.

I took the necessary preliminary steps and supported each step with what I was learning about God's government. I knew that as God's child I was not, in reality, subject to any lack or limitations. One truth that was helpful was found in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy: ''Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life.'' n3 I realized that because I was governed by God I could not be deprived.

n3 Ibid., p. 215.

A few days before school started, the chairman of the department called and said, ''You will never believe this, but a woman has called to say that she will not be able to come for this fall semester. We are offering you her position and her assistantship.''

All limitations of time, finances, and educational background were nullified. This was truly evidence of God's freeing government in action.

It is wonderful to know that God's unlimited good is available to each of us. Genuine freedom from limitation is always a result of God's government. When we begin to understand this, we can knock down those illusive walls of restriction and prove our unlimited potential. We can know and live the truth that ''with God all things are possible.'' DAILY BIBLE VERSE Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages. Ephesians 3:20, 21