June 7, 2018

The Gift of Boundaries

Written by Tripp Prince

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 7, 2018

By Tripp Prince

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:6 (NIV)

Early in life, we are confronted with our limitations. For me, they were athletic. No matter how much I might have wanted it to be otherwise, I couldn’t change the fact that I was six feet tall by age twelve, giving me a great height advantage over my peers, but severely limiting my coordination and athletic abilities!

As we age, our limitations shift and evolve. We realize our life is not an ever-broadening horizon with limitless opportunities, but is instead an invitation to celebrate our boundaries and limitations and learn to flourish with the people God has given to us, in the places that we call home.

For the psalmist, limitations, whether physical, relational, or spiritual, are not seen as a burden but are a gift, falling in “pleasant places.” Are you able to see your limitations as a gift from God? When you cannot have an infinite number of friendships, you find the freedom to invest in life-long relational intimacy and depth with a few select people. When you cannot pursue every career you could possibly imagine, you are liberated to gain expertise and wisdom in your given field. And as Christians, when the Lord gives us commands and limitations on what he says is best for us, we can receive them with joy rather than anger.

The boundary lines of the Lord are given for our flourishing not our failure. His commands are meant to liberate us from lesser loves and empty pursuits. The narrow path we walk in his Kingdom keeps us away from passions and pursuits that bring us heartache and harm. It is pleasant indeed to have clarity on who God is and who we are in Christ. May he give us the courage and strength to embrace our limitations as a gift. May you trust in his goodness and provision, believing that he is leading you faithfully to a delightful inheritance.

“For I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees” (Psalm 119:47-48).

Prayer

Father, thank you that you care for us deeply and keep us on the path that leads to life. Amen.

Application

What boundaries or limitations do you struggle to accept that may in fact be a gift from God?

Related Reading

Psalm 112:1; Isaiah 30:21; Romans 8:28

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Boundary lines from the Lord are given for our flourishing not our failure. #WisdomHunters #boundaries

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Comments

  1. Debbie J says:

    This devotional was really enlightening for me! I have always felt like I’m never doing enough, always striving because of so many obstacles. Lately though I feel that God is trying to show me that I am allowed to enjoy this wonderful life, and simply show His love to the world through my daily living. I have grown and matured and my circle of friends has shrunk, and hard learned boundaries have weeded out those whom I had allowed in the past to bully and disrespect me or my beliefs. The job I now have is not what I wanted or worked so hard for but it allows me to help people each and every day and God has used it to bless me so much!
    Thank you for this reading! It validates everything I’ve been learning and praying about.

  2. Gwynne says:

    Dear Debbie,
    I am so glad that Tripp’s devotional “spoke to you” and blessed you. I always love it when our heavenly Father puts the words in front of us that we need to see at the exact time we need to see it.
    I think you may be speaking for others in our Wisdom Hunter’s family who also needed to see these words. There are many important reminders in this devotional that certainly reassures us about the benefits of the boundaries God has placed for us.
    “His commands are meant to liberate us from lesser loves and empty pursuits. The narrow path we walk in His Kingdom keeps us away from passions and pursuits that bring us heartache and harm.”
    Debbie, I appreciate what you said when you spoke about your job not being the job you may have wanted BUT God is using that very job to help others and in turn, bless you. Wow! What a blessing!
    Let’s keep enjoying this wonderful life and showing others His Love in our daily lives!
    Thank you Debbie.
    Believing and trusting,
    Gwynne
    “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
    Psalm 143:8

    “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
    Deuteronomy 31:8


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