Boundaries
A friend posted this quote on social media a week or so ago and, as usual, I took some time to process and ponder. Today, I want us to look at boundaries – I cannot emphasize enough how important they are.
Where there is no center, there is no circumference [boundaries]. Eugene Peterson
Now, I don’t know about you but I have very high regard for Mr. Peterson – he is the person who created The Message Translation of the Bible.
What’s Your Center?
Many years ago I volunteered to be a case study at a Chinese School of Acupuncture – I was interviewed by about 20 students. I sat on a stool at the front of the classroom and was interrogated by these men and women training to be Acupuncturists, a procedure I believe in.
One of the questions I was asked,
Do you consider yourself a centered woman and, if so, what is your center?
My answer was simply, “Yes, I am a very centered/grounded person and my center is Jesus Christ.”
What Makes You Tick!
My entire being is guided by my faith in Christ. Every.Thing.
My faith dictates my health, my daily routine, my relationships, my writing, my politics, and everything!
He is my Center and my boundaries are truth. I believe Jesus’ boundaries were Truth also. He is my example.
What Is Your Center?
I would love to hear your answers in the comments. Perhaps some of them would be:
Honesty.
Integrity.
Diligence.
Morality.
For me, Jesus Christ is the epitome of all of those traits.
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is wise. The Bible tells us…
Guard your heart – for out of it flows all the issues of life. Proverbs 4.23
It doesn’t say follow your heart, it says to guard it, protect it, watch over it, keep it with diligence. In fact another scripture says,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Jeremiah 17.9
Yikes!
Boundaries
We are wise to set them. We are wise to identify our “center.” In this world where good is now called evil and evil is called good – we must know our belief system and have core beliefs and boundaries that cannot be compromised.
Time To Build A Fence Or Two
Post Scripts
“Givers have to set limits because takers never will.” a friend
“Walls / boundaries are a metaphor for self-control in the Bible.” Lance Wallnau
I love the challenge of the pointed question, and of course, I would echo you, and I also want to be very specific about my mission to teach, encourage, and inspire women to become students of the word and ardent followers of Christ. If I stray from that center, I become boundary-less.
We need to talk in real life some day…
We WILL talk I.R.L. one day – I am confident of that.
VERY good piece. Growing closer and closer to Jesus I now see what centered is. Constant, peace, still, truth. And since my spiritual growth I really started to understand the boundary-less society we live in and how I was once contributing to it even as a faithful girl! VERY eye opening message! Thank you!
Boundaries….crucial to victorious living. Righteous boundaries!!!!
Total agreement Sister and when we start to turn a bit? Sometimes the favor, friendships, agreement we may gain by not centering on Christ is tempting? I am learning turn your head toward HIM, and open your mouth and speak truth.
Our boundary is Truth.
Excellent and something that is speaking to me very LOUD and CLEAR ……….feels as if you wrote it just for me. I am in one of those times of especially needing to “guard my heart” I am a mama and this mama’s heart is going through what has become a cyclical thing the past 4+ years in that I have been in a puddle of tears over our son who disowned us. Top that with next son being very distant with us (live in same county and he refuses all invitations for months now) and …….well, guarding my heart has got to be applied because I know God doesn’t want me in that puddle of tears all the time. Hard to know where the boundaries are when it comes to our offspring but I know those boundaries are valuable and necessary. Thank you as always for writing from your heart through Holy Ghost guidance.
Kath’ I def feel your pain.
Boundary setting is soooo Biblical. The first set of boundaries I can think of are the 10 Commandments. I know there are many more. Those ten seem very obvious, but other boundaries are not. If I am Christ-centered, eventually I hope to hear Him when He tells me: boundary.
I totally get what Kathy says in regard to our children. That is a tough one.
Thank you, Susie! Love
Paula, thank YOU!!! Love you girlfriend – we might be heading your way soon!!! I’ll LYK.
I am currently reading through The Message and thinking about circumferences. I have not thought about the relationship between the center and the circumference, but it is so true. How can you have boundaries if you have no center? You have given me something to ponder, Susan. Thank you!
Then, I have succeeded!!!!! xo
We so need boundaries in our lives. Our property has rocks which mark the boundary on one side. They always remind me that boundaries are not to be moved. We are wise to let Scripture set them in our lives and then maintain them.
Amen!!!
Susan, I’m such a big fan of boundaries. First for myself, and then for the women I talk with. It’s amazing how we can try to wiggle away and rationalize our way out of them, under them, away from them.
Praise God for the Spirit who firmly woos us back to Himself and to the Word of God.
Those fence lines are there for a reason. They guard our hearts.
AMEN, SISTER!!!
Susan, such a great post. Boundaries are essential in every aspect of our lives, but especially in relationships. We do need to guard our hearts. Like you, Jesus is my center.
And, Jeanne, your life proves that!
So much power in this!
First, knowing who we are — how we are centered — is key. I’m learning more everyday (despite knowing the right answer for 30 years!)
Second, boundaries are powerful. And Godly. Instead of looking at them as a defense system, I am looking at them as something good that God wants for me to be healthy. It’s not always easy, but it is good!
Boundaries are VERY good!!!
Susan, this is such a great post. Yes, everything falls into place when Jesus is the center of our being and focus, and reminds me of Romans 8:28. What an opportunity to share your faith with those students. Praying your response points them to the One!
I pray so!
Amen Susan. Jesus Christ is the center of my life. I’m reading several books right now. Maybe that’s why it takes me so long to get through them. One of them I am re-reading is one that was required as part of my Masters studies many moons ago, it is Boundaries By Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend. I am hoping to incorporate some posts about boundaries on my blog in the near future. Blessings.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee.
Can’t wait to read some of those posts, Paula!
Learned during a very painful situation with a family member about boundaries. It’s a real thing. I now enact it as needed.
Amen, sister.
I love this so much! Yes – Boundaries are so vital for our health… we simply must have them –and enforce them (and –from time to time– be willing to adjust or change them!) Jesus is my center, too! Of course!
xoxo
~K~
Ms. K….I knew that “about you!!!”
Susan, you know my story. My boundaries were all out of whack for 12 plus years. I have been asking God to guide me as I learn to set healthy God honoring boundaries.