Hello again!! It’s week TWO of learning to set godly boundaries. I’m SO ready for God’s best, aren’t you?
Last week we learned about the boundaries we have for ourselves based on our childhood and how those affect us adults. This week we think about relational boundaries with those we interact with on a regular basis. By dissecting our current relationships, we may uncover some unhealthy patterns. What may have begun as a way to sooth a friend’s heart during a hard season may now be a relationship that requires more than you can give. Does your work take you away from your family too often? Does your family affection keep you from working enough so that you can support you family? It all starts in the heart and what you believe about your time and the value you place on things around you.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16
Today is a chance to dream about your perfect life. Kind of amazing, right? Time to travel, money to spare, a connection with your family that is healthy and friendships that are life-giving and safe. Each of us have a different idea of our “best life,” and one isn’t better than another. It is uniquely dreamed up by the person who longs for it, because God created a unique heart in each of us.
For me, I love nature and the outdoors. My “perfect schedule” creates space to hike, camp, and travel to remote locations. Because I adore my kids, I would leave time to play with them, be silly, and go on adventures. My writing would be a creative expression and never a burden because I would be organized and ahead of the game in my ministry.
Our priorities, likes, and loves should dictate our schedule, under the guidance of God. What speaks to me, may not speak to you. What you value, I may not. But there ARE things that God’s heart values, and He wants to reveal those to us. If your schedule leaves no space for the things you AND God value, then it is time to make some adjustments.
Let’s Pray:
1.) Ask God to show you what is important to YOU. It could be that you are so disconnected from your own likes, loves, and needs that you can’t even list them. Let God reveal them to you and write them down in your journal.
2.) Now think through your weekly schedule and write out the commitments that take the most of your time. Write them down.
3.) What does God say about your schedule? Is there space to pray with Him when you aren’t in a session of #theFives? Do your kids’ activities run your life? When do you make time to connect with friends/family/your spouse? What do you need to let go of/add to your schedule to make it reflect God’s priorities for you?
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