Boundaries Set You Free
Thought of the Week
Boundaries set you free.
The gun fires, leaving an echo in the morning air. Thousands take off running. The tight pack breaks apart as they round the first corner of the quiet city. Some speed ahead, while others take a side road and another group veers down an alley. The runners bound together at the starting line now sweep across the city, filling every piece of pavement they see. Some run into dead ends. Others run in circles. All of them are lost.
A finish line was never established. The streets have no barriers. Pure chaos ensues. This is what a race looks like without boundaries.
Life is often a race from one thing to the next. We are marathon runners with no guardrails, running hard and fast toward a goal that hasn’t quite materialized. There’s a finish line out there somewhere, but where? Are we running in the wrong direction? Is the finish line even in this city?
In a real race, the finish line is defined, and the course is marked. The runners are focused on the prize and know the path to take. They don’t waste a second looking down side roads; they are free to run full speed ahead.
Living with purpose requires the same structure. You must have a defined destination and set boundaries to keep you moving in the right direction.
I find the most peace and structure in life when I adhere to my boundaries. The most important time of day for me is between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. I use the early morning hours to focus on one of my personal goals: mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. I set boundaries in other parts of my life to protect this valuable morning time and stay focused on the end result.
I don’t go out late at night; I’m in bed early.
I don’t hit snooze; I get out of bed immediately.
I don’t scroll on my phone; I start the day with prayer and devotions.
I’ve spent a lot of time deciding what matters most in my life. I make sure anything that would keep me from pursuing my goals stays outside my boundaries. I’ve learned that boundaries don’t restrict me; they set me free to do what I was created to do.
Your boundaries can and will look different from mine. The most important thing is that you set them. Be intentional, define your finish line, and set boundaries that lead to a purposeful life. Run your race at full speed, and let boundaries set you free.
Know Him
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
— 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT)
Understand Yourself
What’s an important goal you have that’s been difficult to achieve?
Do His Work
Create one new boundary this week to help you stay focused on achieving your goal.