BOUNDARIES IN FORGIVENESS

Today we want to look at the practicalities of boundaries. Let’s start with…..

1) Personal Responsibility : We must make the decision to take responsibility for our lives. That means being willing to set a boundary in place and telling the other person, ‘NO’. Unless we’re willing to take responsibility, we will remain a victim of our circumstances. Victims blame shift, complain and allow others to rescue them because it saves them having to take responsibility.

2) Overcoming Fear : The major reluctance in people to set boundaries is the fear of what man will do to them. Hence they don’t like to say, ‘NO’.

There are 2 things we can and must do if we are to overcome fear.

a) We must put our trust in God and confess His word over our lives. This means if all hell breaks lose, if we are threatened, accused or blamed, we must steadfastly keep our trust fixed in God. He will turn things around in His way and His time.

2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (NKJV)

Heb 13:6 “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”  (NKJV)

b) The only way to deal with fear is to confront it. When we do this we find the fear dissipating and a boldness replacing it.

3) Boundaries Force People To Take Responsibility

When we establish boundaries it forces people to take personal responsibility for their actions. Most people don’t like to take responsibility, therefore be prepared for a reaction. Anger, shouting, threats, accusations etc will most likely be the result of setting a boundary. But as we hold firm to our decision, the other person will back away and the boundary will become established.

Many people say they’ve set boundaries but back down in the face of opposition. We’ve got to be determined to follow through on our decisions.

If we can but establish one boundary, it will empower us to set more. The Scripture says,

“Let the weak say I’m strong” (Joel 3:10 NKJV).

Heb 13:5-6 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (NKJV)

We must declare this over our lives when fear arises. By boldly declaring the word over ourselves, it releases the power in the word to strengthen us.

Whenever God wanted to create a thing, He spoke it into existence. As He did so, the latent power in the word was released to bring that thing into existence.

Gen 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (NKJV)

Rom 4:17-18 God, gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;  (NKJV)

Meditation Point: I will boldly proclaim over myself that I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. As I ‘say‘ God’s word, it releases the word’s latent power.

 

 

 

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