“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
– Psalm 16:5-8
Yesterday, we talked about three things that forgiveness is not and we emphasized that forgiving someone doesn’t mean forgetting the wrong that was done or pretending that it never happened. For this reason, as much as I emphasize reconciliation and I believe that it’s very near to God’s heart, I also want to say that it’s not always possible to reconcile with those who have hurt you. The reason for this is that boundaries are an important part of any relationship and sometimes, if a line is crossed repeatedly and the person who has harmed you is not repentant, you won’t be able to be really close again, and that’s okay. Boundaries are a huge part of living in the fullness and abundant life that Jesus wants to give you; in fact, the word holy means “set apart.” Another way of saying holy means unique. You’re a unique person and you have to say no to some behaviors and relationships in order to be truly you. God has a wonderful plan for your future and He wants you to live up to your full potential in His Kingdom, so be guard your heart and be fully who you are! |
Prayer
God, thank you for knowing me from the inside out and for setting me apart to be uniquely me. I pray for strength, courage and wisdom to set boundaries with myself and others.
Reflection
What do you think it means to set boundaries? How can you forgive others and protect your heart at the same time?
One Response
I pray to be made whole, that I receive support with new boundaries that keep me protected and safe. Spiritually, emotionally and physically, that I speak with people who have respect and or understanding to that truth. That my feelings are geared towards the love, knowledge and truth found through Christ Jesus in truth and in spirit, amen