Boundaries are those things that people don’t always want, but absolutely need. They are essential to the way we do everyday life. From traffic lights to work hours, boundaries help guide our everyday lives. The thing I caution the young adults of TBI about is to keep their boundaries when they go “out on their own”. Just because you live alone doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want to do. That’s not healthy. It’s not safe and it’s absolutely not wise.

I recently looked up on an old friend who I was expecting to be taking over the world in the media circuit. He’s extremely gifted and talented and although his media is still great, the content isn’t. I saw things that I would of NEVER expected coming from his angle of the camera. I sit here in my favorite coffee shop praying for him, and thinking about the boundaries he slowly started to cross.

So many times we use the new year to think about change, but what about the things that need to stay the same. I believe there is a time for change, but there are also times when you need to allow your boundaries to stand strong. Boundaries are their to build our lives. They keep us focused on the true things that really matter. Boundaries don’t keep us from the good things they keep us focused on moving towards the best things.

When’s the last time you looked at your boundaries? Things like what music movies you will entertain yourself with, or the types of friends you hangout with. Boundaries give you the ability to tell yourself no, when you want to say yes. This is a growing discipline that we all work on. 1 Timothy talks about the false doctrines and teachers that would come amongst us, boundaries keep us safe. You won’t need to fear moral failure, if boundaries are built. The Holy Spirit is given to us a helper and even a builder of boundaries. 1 Corinthians 13:11 shows us the best freedom we can find knowing that those boundaries will always be a way of escape from temptation.

(Side Note: Temptation isn’t always a “sin thing”. Temptation could be a great thing. Temptation to quit your job too early. Temptation to stay the same when you know you’re called for more.) 

While you’re changing this year make sure you’re building too. When you keep boundaries they will keep you.