Boundaries are something we all learn from a young age, but sometimes we underestimate the power and protection that comes from setting boundaries for ourselves. Think about driving with the lines on the road as your boundaries... the lines were created to maintain safety and order when driving. The lines are typically on both sides of the lanes, as long as you stay within those lines you are safe. Within the lines or the boundaries of your lane, you are free to move around, but the minute you veer off into another lane you run the risk of causing an accident. You shouldn't focus so much on the cars in the other lane - just keep focusing on the road in front of you. You can take glances on the sides to make sure you aren't close to the lines, but your primary focus should be looking straight ahead, and you will end up straightening out your car naturally.

1. Understanding Boundaries (verses 20-22)

- The reason why so many people think boundaries don’t work for them is because they don't understand what a boundary is to begin with…and they don't understand what a boundary is, because they aren’t listening to the words of the Father who has been speaking the whole time…

- The literal definition of a boundary is “a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line”.

- Scripture teaches us that a boundary is a guideline and/or word that we choose to live our lives by to lead us to a place of holiness and oneness with the Lord.

- Our Sight + HIS Words = A Good Life

- Boundaries are not meant to help figure what we can and cannot do… They are meant to bring us closer to God through holy choices that as a direct result highlight what we can and cannot do.

- If boundaries are meant to bring us closer to God through Holy choices, then that would mean that the boundaries we create should PUSH us to be CLOSER to God.

2. Creating Boundaries (verses 23-24)

- Scripture tells us to guard our heart, avoid perverse talk, and stay away from corrupt speech… It doesn’t explicitly say these things are sinm but it does say to guard your heart from it.

- You don't cause an accident by riding on the line in a car, but you do run the risk of it… If you're so busy being focused on the cars on your sides, you won't even realize that you are driving closer and closer into the other lanes.

- This is the same mistake lots of people make when they create boundaries for themselves. If you are basing your boundaries off of the sin you are trying to abstain from, focusing solely on what you cannot do, you will slowly allow subtle corruption into your lives without realizing it.

- Be careful not to set boundaries just by focusing on your weaknesses — doing this might make you miss the deeper issue leading you to struggle. Instead, recognize your triggers in the sin you are avoiding and create space between yourself and the things that can pull you towards compromise.

a. Recognize your weakness and the sin you need to stay away from

b. Identify your triggers

c. Structure your boundaries based on your triggers

There are 3 basic types of boundaries that you should start with:

- Physical (example - innocent touching)

- Emotional (example - premature attachments)

- Spiritual (example - time devoted to idols or other "gods" in our life)

3. Maintaining Boundaries (verses 25-27)

- Both the beginning and the end of the passage of scripture basically say the same thing, ‘Fix yours eyes on Him, and you will stay on the path you are supposed to’.

- ACCOUNTABILITY: Maybe you’ve had boundaries for a long time, and you still slip up and feel like nothing you ever do is able to keep you from compromising yourself… Who are you trusting to hold you to your boundaries?

- Stop trusting your best friend to be the only person to speak into your life...

- Get someone to speak into your life that sincerely wants what's the best for you and has the best intentions at heart for you. Look at their "fruit"...

Remember that boundaries are not meant to keep us from living a good life. They are meant to sustain us in this life by bringing us closer to Him resulting in a better life than we ever could have imagined,

- Boundaries are not restrictive and limiting, boring, pointless, or a punishment…

- Boundaries are limitless, freeing, fulfilling, purposeful, and a blessing… because we serve a God who is boundless in what he can do..both for us and through us.