Boundaries 101Sample

Boundaries 101

DAY 1 OF 5

Invisible Property Lines

Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership.

Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives me freedom. If I know where my yard begins and ends, I am free to do with it what I like. Taking responsibility for my life opens up many different options. However, if I do not “own” my life, my choices and options become very limited.

Think how confusing it would be if someone told you to “guard this property diligently, because I will hold you responsible for what happens here,” and then did not tell you the boundaries of the property. Or they did not give you the means with which to protect the property. This would be not only confusing but also potentially dangerous.

This is exactly what happens to us emotionally and spiritually, however. God designed a world where we all live “within” ourselves; that is, we inhabit our own souls, and we are responsible for the things that make up “us.” “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy” (Prov. 14:10). We have to deal with what is in our soul, and boundaries help us to define what that is. If we are not shown the parameters, or are taught wrong parameters, we are in for much pain.

The Bible tells us clearly what our parameters are and how to protect them, but often our family, or other past relationships, confuses us about our parameters.

In addition to showing us what we are responsible for, boundaries help us to define what is not on our property and what we are not responsible for. We are not, for example, responsible for other people. Nowhere are we commanded to have “other-control,” although we spend a lot of time and energy trying to get it!

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Looking for more? Click here to see how you can get the PDF eBook The 10 Laws of Boundaries .

Day 2

About this Plan

Boundaries 101

Does your life feel like it’s out of control? Perhaps you have inexplicable feelings of guilt, fear, resentment, powerlessness, anger, or deep emotional pain connected with people you know. In their book BOUNDARIES , Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend help you learn when to say yes and know how to say no in order to take control of your life. This plan will help you get started with boundaries.

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