![]() I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and to, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down, Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received instruction. (Proverbs 24:30-32) Establishing healthy boundaries is so vitally important as we are navigating life, particularly relationships.” A boundary is a limitation or a rule we establish for ourselves in our relationships, whether personal or professional. Having a relationship with God creates automatic boundaries for us. Many of us had parents or grandparents who assisted us with developing those boundaries by seeing to it that we were in church and teaching us biblical principles through the word of God. There are certain things that have been ingrained in us. Biblical principles, not only create boundaries for us, but are a compass that navigates us back to God. The word of God has become a stone fence, helping to keep things that don’t belong, out. Proverbs 24:30-32, provides us with an analogy of the believer who has been lacking in tending to the things of God in their lives. Notice the stone wall that has been created to mark boundaries has fallen down. Where the borders were once distinct and clear, thorns and weeds have grown up making it difficult to even see where the wall once existed. This is the individual who has become distracted and therefore, negligent. Perhaps that distraction is brought on by life challenges, a new relationship, job, money, etc., or something as simple as a cell phone. This list goes on and on. John MacArthur wrote, “If the enemy can’t destroy you he will distract you.” Furthermore, “If the enemy can distract you from your time alone with God, then he can isolate you from the help that comes from God alone.” If he can distract us then the distraction will cause us to stop enforcing our boundaries. We then allow things in, engage in things, say, do things that are against the very principles that kept that boundary in place. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Consider the consequences of a broken-down fence. To make short work of it, first, the boundary has gone. Those lines of separation which were kept up by the good principles which were instilled in him by religious habits, by a bold profession, and by a firm resolve, have vanished, and now the question is, “Is he a Christian, or is he not?” The fence is so far gone that he does not know which is his Lord’s property and which remains an open common…If that man had lived near to God, if he had walked in his integrity, if the Spirit of God had richly rested on him in all holy living and waiting upon God, he would have known where the boundary was… I heard of a dear old saint the other day who when she was near to death, was attacked by Satan, and waving her finger at the enemy in her gentle way she routed him by saying, “Chosen! chosen! chosen!” She knew that she was chosen, and she remembered the text, “The Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee.” When the wall stands in its integrity all round the field, we can resist the devil by bidding him leave the Lord’s property alone. “Begone! Look somewhere else. I belong to Christ, not to you.” To do this you must mend the hedges well so that there shall be a clear boundary line, and you can say “Trespassers, beware!” Do not yield an inch to the enemy, but make the wall all the higher the more he seeks to enter. O that this adversary may never find a gap to enter by.” Dear Lord, help us to tend to our boundaries, clearing the weeds, checking every stone for gaps. Direct us in how to do this, whether we need to seek you more, read our word more, serve you more. “Search us, O God, and know our heart: try us, and know our thoughts: And see if there is any wicked way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.” (Proverbs 139:23-24) GiGi❤️
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