Boundaries - Our Feelings

First, let me say Isaac and Trevor did a fantastic "show" last night.  I was so excited to be there with them! They had 15 minutes and did 4 songs which were all received well! A bit disappointed though that after we left to go eat with our friends, the owner asked them to play more and they gave another hours performance. Oh, well, I will catch them again next time!




For The Rabbits

Bean's Books &Beliefs Coffee Shop
Open Mic night








                                   So...back to boundaries:
Yesterday I wrote about the different things we are responsible for.  One of which is our feelings. God tells us in so many places that we can choose how we feel and respond to life and those around us.

Philippians 4:6-7 " DO NOT fret or have anxiety about anything...."
Psalm 42:5 "Why are you downcast oh my soul...hope in the Lord..."
Psalm 37:1 "Fret not yourself...."
Psalm 9:2 "I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits....."
Proverbs 16:9 "A man's mind plans his way..."
Proverbs 4:23 Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life."

We can't ignore our feelings, but we can't let them be in charge either.  We are told to capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5)

"Feelings come from your heart and can tell you the state of your relationships. They can tell you if things are going well or there's a problem. If you feel close and loving things are probably going well.  If you feel angry, you have a problem that needs to be addressed. But the point is, your feelings are your responsibility and you must own them and see them as your problem so you can begin to find an answer to whatever issue they are pointing to." (Excerpt from Boundaries by Cloud/Townsend)

If we allow someone to get us angry or sad, it is because we have allowed them to have "power" over us and we are in bondage to them. We need to deal with WHY we are allowing them to affect us in that way, instead of only relying on Jesus to give us our approval. So that also means that we don't allow others to hold us responsible for how THEY feel and once we get a hold of that concept, it is very freeing indeed! Does this give us the right to treat people however we choose? Oh course not! But, if we continue to harm them, they may set up boundaries to protect themselves from us and likewise we have the responsibility to put boundaries around our lives to protect ourselves from harm. Will setting boundaries in our relationships HURT someone"s feelings?  Perhaps, and most likely, yes, but it won't HARM them. And therein lies the  difference.