Matthew 7:6: ''Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you".
Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it".I have not been the best at keeping my thoughts at bay, and living in the moment. This can be overwhelming sometimes, because I always try to visualize my future in my present. I remember praying about this, and the Holy Spirit said I have boundary issues. And the root of the problem was that I did not trust God. Because it is one thing to proclaim that I love God but what happens when I do not get the result I expected from Him? He said I needed to pray for wisdom on how to implement parameters around my thoughts; which I did and still do. So, how do I implement boundaries in this area? I do so by taking the practical step of unclogging my mind. Whenever I try to time travel to figure out the impossible mission of discovering what my future is.
As Christians, we get religious sometimes, and forget about some practical steps that could fix a lot of our prayer points. It is only the wisdom of God that can teach us those steps. For example, If you get overwhelmed easily, how about taking things one step at a time? if you struggle with sexual immorality, why not put boundaries on what you watch and listen to? or what you entertain because our minds are like sponges, we may not see the effect immediately but we have planted a seed in our minds. Even having someone you are accountable to, helps fortify our boundaries. You can simply tell someone you trust what you are struggling with, and let them know you need them to keep you accountable. If you struggle with fear, fight all those fearful thoughts that come to your mind with the word of God. There are always practical steps in life, but we need the wisdom of God to activate our minds. Because with His wisdom we may prevent a situation from turning into a prayer point.
What other practical steps are available to us?
The bible tells us to guard our hearts because we cannot trust in our ability to mitigate situations, but we may prevent it from happening if we do so. The most deceitful thing is our feelings, because it’s very fickle, and can easily be swayed based on our mood, surroundings, and situations. As we mature, we realize the need to set boundaries which includes having non-negotiables in relationships, friendships, family, work, and other areas of our lives. That way, we are able to keep ourselves accountable, and check the behaviours of others in our lives. We all know the common saying, "If someone does not respect your boundaries, that is an indication that they do not respect you". This is valid, however, it is equally important to set realistic boundaries so that we do not limit ourselves. It is okay if someone does not understand why you set those boundaries, they do not need to, because you alone are aware of the its importance. We should also avoid making boundaries as a result of our pain or past experiences. An example, isolating yourself from others because of the way someone treated you in the past or it may be those inner vows you made when you faced an unpleasant circumstance or witnessed an unpleasant situation.
Also, we need to take responsibility for our actions if we expect others to respect our boundaries. For example, if you do not want to be lied to, then do not lie to others, if you want a good friendship/relationship then you should embody the kind of person you want as a friend, or if you do not want to be disrespected, then be respectful, even to yourself because respect is reciprocal. Whatever, you want, you have to be an example. And we can do this with the help of the Holy Spirit, when we root our identity in Christ.
I pray for peace over our minds today because it is only from a peaceful place that we can see clearly. I pray for grace to identify the areas in our lives that are struggling, because we have not placed parameters around them. I also pray for the manifold wisdom of God to build Godly boundaries in the right areas. Lastly, I pray for healing and restoration for those areas that may have suffocated due to lack of boundaries.
Salvation Prayer: If you stumbled on this blog and you do not know this "God" I write about, but you feel a leading in your spirit to know more. Well, Welcome! God loves you and has led you here for a reason. If you desire to build a relationship with Him, the first step is to say this prayer below:
Lord Jesus, I come today as a sinner.
I know that I have turned away from You several times.
Today, I confess and repent of all my sins,
I believe You died for me and rose again,
I ask that Your precious Blood purify my life.
I ask that You change me, renew me and lead me.
Become my Lord and personal Savior.
Now, I am yours and I am Born Again.
Thank you Lord for saving me. Amen.Congratulations, the Bible tells us that every time someone gives their life to God, there is a celebration in heaven over that person, you are loved and celebrated at this moment and forever. Amen!
Next steps: I urge you to find a church to join, you may also reach out via the Contact section if you have any questions, we would love to help you with your walk with Christ. God loves you!