At a very young age I learned a thing or two about boundaries. When I was younger, I remember my mother setting a boundary of how far my sister and I could go when we played outside. If we passed the boundary and she could no longer see us from the window, we would get in trouble and have to come back inside of the house. As I got older, I remember my mother setting a boundary for the type of grades I could have on my report card, if she saw anything that was not satisfactory I could forget the thought of leaving the house to do anything I wanted to do.
According to Hebrews 12:11 NIV, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”. When I think about the boundaries that my mother set for me as a young child, there is direct correspondence with some of the boundaries I set for myself today as an adult. Whenever I am heading out to an unknown or unfamiliar place, I usually let a family member or close friend know where I am going. If I do not finish work that I have set out to do then I will stay home to ensure that the work gets done.
According to Hebrews 12:11 NIV, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”. When I think about the boundaries that my mother set for me as a young child, there is direct correspondence with some of the boundaries I set for myself today as an adult. Whenever I am heading out to an unknown or unfamiliar place, I usually let a family member or close friend know where I am going. If I do not finish work that I have set out to do then I will stay home to ensure that the work gets done.
I believe that God wanted me to write this blog so that readers may begin setting boundaries this month for the future that awaits in 2017. The boundaries you begin to create for yourself now will be the key to maintaining the blessings that God will produce for you in 2017. Your boundaries will train you how to discipline yourself in certain areas that God will need you to remain strong in.
Without boundaries it is easy for us to allow our flesh to become boundless. Boundless to temptation. Boundless to deception. Boundless to lazy behavior. Boundless to the norms of this world. A lack of boundaries has the power to drag us into an isolated place where we are disconnected from God to divert us from our purpose and living out our full potential. This month, I challenge you to create healthy boundaries for yourself that will force you to take responsibility of your actions and your thought process in 2017.
Without boundaries it is easy for us to allow our flesh to become boundless. Boundless to temptation. Boundless to deception. Boundless to lazy behavior. Boundless to the norms of this world. A lack of boundaries has the power to drag us into an isolated place where we are disconnected from God to divert us from our purpose and living out our full potential. This month, I challenge you to create healthy boundaries for yourself that will force you to take responsibility of your actions and your thought process in 2017.
Just as a homeowner has property lines also known as boundary lines to determine where their land ends and their neighbor land begins, we must create boundaries in order to define limitations in certain areas of our lives. Boundaries keep us grounded and they “teach us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12 NIV). Setting boundaries will play a contributory role in preventing satan from interjecting with God’s plan for your life. Aim for boundless submission to God in 2017 to create boundless joy, boundless peace, boundless grace, boundless fruits of the spirit that ultimately strengthen our character and help make us whole.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
With happiness we exalt your holy name! Thank you for blessing us with another fruitful day and protecting us as we set out on our way. We glorify you and give you honor. Hallelujah to our King and ruler over everything! We are enamoured by your daily grace and loving kindness. Thank you for being who you are and thank you for allowing us the privilege of knowing you. With a desire to make you proud, we ask that you cleanse us internally and uproot anything that may dwell within us that is not of you. Bless us with a clean heart. Bless us with clean motives. Bless us with clean thoughts. Bless us with clean tongues. Forgive us for our faulty and harmful ways. Refine us completely and build our character in a way that reflects you Lord. As we go through this last month of 2016 we pray for the ability to successfully create boundaries for our future. Bless us with the wisdom and direction that you know will be necessary for us to have while creating boundaries. Reveal to us the areas in our lives where we need discipline and self restriction the most. Lord remind us to always remain in you so that you will remain in us (John 15:4-5 NIV). For no one has the power to lay any foundation other than the one already laid by you (1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV). With total trust, we humbly surrender ourselves before you Lord and we give you praise. We love you and in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
With happiness we exalt your holy name! Thank you for blessing us with another fruitful day and protecting us as we set out on our way. We glorify you and give you honor. Hallelujah to our King and ruler over everything! We are enamoured by your daily grace and loving kindness. Thank you for being who you are and thank you for allowing us the privilege of knowing you. With a desire to make you proud, we ask that you cleanse us internally and uproot anything that may dwell within us that is not of you. Bless us with a clean heart. Bless us with clean motives. Bless us with clean thoughts. Bless us with clean tongues. Forgive us for our faulty and harmful ways. Refine us completely and build our character in a way that reflects you Lord. As we go through this last month of 2016 we pray for the ability to successfully create boundaries for our future. Bless us with the wisdom and direction that you know will be necessary for us to have while creating boundaries. Reveal to us the areas in our lives where we need discipline and self restriction the most. Lord remind us to always remain in you so that you will remain in us (John 15:4-5 NIV). For no one has the power to lay any foundation other than the one already laid by you (1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV). With total trust, we humbly surrender ourselves before you Lord and we give you praise. We love you and in Jesus name we pray, Amen.