New Boundaries: Get to Know the Father (written 8/1)
Instead of focusing so intently on how to avoid sin, turn your focus to Jesus. Holy Spirit, would You guide me in this new purpose and vision and motivation you’ve given me? YES! I choose yes. I choose to walk away from sin into God’s marvelous light and life. I no longer desire to have sin in my radar. For too long I’ve had to put up “guardrails” to keep me a safe distance from the cliff of sin, although it has only served to keep my eyes fixed there.
I’m so fearful, shamed, angry, drawn by sin that I keep a close eye on it like a snake in the corner of the room. I can see the benefit of boundaries, they keep me safe from separation from God, they keep me from hurting the Father, they keep us from hurting ourselves.
But I don’t want to keep gazing into the darkness in order to keep the beady eyes of the wolf at bay. I don’t want to stare into the depths of the valley to make sure it stays low. I don’t want to keep one eye on the guardrail next to the cliff of destruction so that I stay safe on the road.
I’ll miss the view ahead of me. I’ll miss the mystery of the mountain. I’ll miss the majesty of the ocean depths. I’ll miss all the beauty in the light. I’ll miss them people in the room.
If I keep focusing on avoiding sin, I’ll miss the eyes and heart of my Savior. Like when Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water, the moment he looked away from Jesus and saw the waves- he was afraid, he lost hope, he began to be drawn into the waves.
But when he has his eyes fixed on Jesus, he was crushing the waves under his feet. Walking on water. I too am free to do the impossible with Jesus as my focus.
I want to dive through the vast ocean with Him. I want to scale mountain peaks with the Spirit. I want to run down roads with breath-taking scenery. I want to jump and play in rays of warm sunshine with my Heavenly Father.
I will crush the head of the snake in the room as I love and serve people around me.
My new boundary: get to know my Father God and keep my focus of my Savior through the power of the Holy Spirit. I will remain in the vine. I will abide in the embrace of my Lord. He is my refuge, my strength, my high tower, my rock, my all.
“But as for you, people of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness”. {1 Timothy 6:11}
