𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝟸-𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮 … “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴”, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Limits.  As empowered, self-sufficient, stubbornly independent humans, we don’t like them!  We bristle as we rub up against anything that hems us in, hinders our progress, denies us access, or nips our ambitions in the bud.  We want to run free!  We so easily grasp the illusion that our truest joys are found in unfettered, reckless abandon!

But . . . does living without boundaries always lead to our best good?  Might there be boundaries we are truly thankful for?  

No analogy is perfect, but indulge me for a moment?  Imagine yourself on a trip to the zoo.  You have the rare opportunity to walk right up to the edge of an enclosure and look into the face of a lion or tiger or elephant.  In the wild, any one of those massive animals would pose grave danger to your wellbeing.  Instead, you can stand within feet, maybe even inches of that magnificent creature, marvel at its strength or the uniqueness of its design, and possibly interact.  

What makes the difference?  In most cases, it is heavy-duty, nearly impenetrable, impact glass!  There is a barrier in place to protect you and that animal, to preserve its home, and to enable you to experience the full beauty of that moment without any fear of harm.

When we stand on the shore, gazing out at the vast ocean, we also marvel – at the enormity of the volume of water, the sun dancing off the surface in a million sparkles, the gentle lapping at our feet, the fun we enjoy riding the waves.  But . . . the scene changes dramatically and our fears ramp into a furor when storms come and those waters crest and rush like a torrent beyond their bounds.  

On most days, we are truly grateful to the LORD that He has set a boundary for the oceans and sovereignly works to protect the land we call home (Proverbs 8:29, Jeremiah 5:22). It delights His heart to watch us enjoy the full beauty of our coastal visits without any fear of harm.

Could we say the same for other boundaries we encounter? Can we see them as protection instead of hindrance? Might they be the LORD’s way of positioning us to experience the full beauty of His plans for us without fear?

If we return to our zoo analogy for a minute, it is good to think about the one who set the boundary between the animals and the visitors.  It is the zoo-keeper who makes that decision and plans accordingly for the best of both parties.  The zoo-keeper works behind the scenes to ensure provision and protection for all concerned.  

As we contemplate boundaries, it is important to remember the One who is our ultimate Authority, Provider, and Protector. What does the LORD have to say about boundaries? Which ones are healthy and God-honoring? Conversely, which ones are panicked, self-protecting attempts to control our circumstances in ways that might bring harm to others or even ourselves?

As we take the time to consider the concept of boundaries over the next two weeks, let’s continue to ask good questions, sincerely desiring to understand how to guard and nurture healthy relationships. Let’s encourage one another to seek GOD’s heart, His voice and His perspective, as we grow in relationship with Him and with others. Let us look for His Spirit to show us which limits He sets for our good and which ones He calls us to set, with the self-discipline He supplies.

While gaining a new appreciation for the beauty of boundaries, how wonderful to rejoice in a few truly limitless realities: GOD’s love for us is boundless and free! His salvation is available to all, without limit, without cost to us, without qualification! The fruit of His Spirit in our lives knows no bounds!

Maybe, when we embrace His limits on our hearts and lives, and implement the boundaries He directs, we increase our capacity to enjoy the full beauty of Who He is and the bounty He generously bestows upon us – all without an ounce of doubt or fear!

𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋, 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦,⁣
𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨.⁣
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.⁣
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥.⁣
(𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘚𝘝: “𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 ⁣
𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴”)⁣
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦!⁣
𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦;⁣
𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦.⁣
𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.⁣
𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦.⁣
𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦.⁣
𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺. …⁣
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, ⁣
𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦⁣
𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.⁣
⁣
𝘗𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝟷𝟼:𝟻-𝟷𝟷, 𝘕𝘓𝘛