Psalm 16: 5,6 Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
God is limitless, all knowing, present everywhere, all sufficient in himself. I am not . He has put boundaries in my life and for them I am grateful. These boundaries include time, space, my energy levels, the need to work and the family I am part of.
- Time
I live now, during this time in history. We have many conveniences and many things that could serve as distractions. There are only 24 hours in a day, and some time must be spent working, eating, sleeping and relaxing. God has given me time every day and given me choices of what I can do. It is good to know that I cannot do everything, so I can make choices that are the correct ones for me. I can train myself to not waste time, but to invest it in knowing God better, spending time with family and friends, working at jobs that give me a sense of satisfaction and having hobbies or activities that enrich my life or the lives of others.
- Space
I cannot be everywhere at once. Again, choices are necessary. I can be present and contribute to where I am.
- Energy
I am not an “energizer bunny”, and feel the limits to my strength and energy some days. God’s gift of rest helps renew my energy levels.
- The Need to Work
Working at a full-time job outside the home takes many hours a week. Yet, it helps provide financially for myself and my family and is a source of satisfaction and an area which can be used for personal growth, both in knowledge and people skills.
- Family
It is wonderful to have people who have known you all your life. You don’t have to explain who you are or how you grew up to your siblings — they were there! For married people, their ‘second family’ can also be a source of joy. Yes, sometimes family members can be a source of stress — just ask my husband! But having someone to share your life is a great blessing.
The Bible says “God sets the lonely in families.” Even introverts like myself are not to spend all our time alone!
Living within boundaries, under the grace provided by an unlimited God, is a cause for joy and thanksgiving. It is a reason to worship him.
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All scripture references are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
copyright: K Carswell, 2020
Photo credit: M Carswell
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