Trust in the LORD with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEB)
Oh, here we go, taking self out of the picture again. Trust in God, not me. Rely on His intelligence, not mine. But that isn’t all. The only self that should still be in the picture is in the form of self-control and self-discipline. These help establish boundaries and boundaries help us live a purposeful life that can side step most carelessness.
Knowing God’s word intimately helps me to understand and know what boundaries are important to keep my path through life straight and help keep getting lost down to a minimum. I also need to learn to give myself space on this path, margins that allow for a little weaving between the ditches of life. When I work in needed space in my life, it is like padding for the bumps (stress) in the road that are bound to show up from time to time. If I do not work in extra space (time) into my schedule and have to swerve because of a bump, before I know what happens I end up in a ditch!
For me sometimes “padding” means not being so hard on myself when life happens. Those things that are out of my control are going to happen and I just need to roll with those bumps, shake myself off and stick to the path God has laid out for me. “Padding” also means for me trust in God to see me through all situations. From my children’s welfare, to the roof on my house, I need to be assured that God has my back. Finally, “padding” comes in the form of reading God’s word so that I can know and understand what God’s path is for me.
Father in Heaven, I thank You for Your word where I can learn what boundaries are good for my life. Help me put Your word deep in my heart so that it will be well padded for all the bumps that life brings. Amen.
Pieces of the Puzzle 