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Part 9 of Strengthen Yourself in the Lord; Controlling Your Environment

This chapter could easily be called, “Controlling Your Boundaries”

Most people, when they hear the word boundaries, automatically go to interactions with other people. Boundaries encompass much more, but let’s start with personal interactions.

Have you ever consciously thought about your boundaries? Whether they are okay or need work? Whether they are too strong or too weak?

I developed excessively strong boundaries at a young age. Way too strong, too thick and virtually impossible to penetrate. They made for a very lonely world.

My challenge was to develop appropriate ones.

Now, what about the boundaries in your environment? Are you a doom-scroller? Does the internet take way too much of your time?

This can lead to depression and anxiety since it encourages us to compare our lives with those of others.

Do you spend too much time with negative influences? These can be people, but they can also be entertainment types, including music and books. And they can infect your mind with negativity.

The remedy? Philipians 4:8:  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Now here’s your challenge: first, ask God to reveal areas of your life you still need to place under His control. Remember, He won’t interfere on His own. Then ask Him how you should handle them. Should you reject and remove them? Modify them?

Believe me, I’ve struggled with this on occasion. Just because something feels good at the time doesn’t make it good for you.  

Finally, cultivate those activities and people who build up your faith. When you enter times of darkness, as we all do, these are the ones who will truly support you. You can depend on them to build you up. And vice versa.

When you struggle to strengthen yourself in the Lord, you will have additional help.