Caution Tape

Read

John 14:21, “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.”

Think

We all know the importance of caution tape. It protects and guides us from potentially stepping into a dangerous zone — it provides a boundary between what’s safe and what’s not.

Some of the most essential relational boundaries come without visible caution tape. Whether within your marriage, dating relationship, friendship, or parent-child relationship, they are crucial to maintaining proper balance, perspective, and overall health.

In marriage, boundaries are vital to keeping intimacy and oneness a top priority. It keeps what could bring harm to the relationship at bay. It’s things like making time to properly communicate, having a weekly date night, and eliminating whatever issues are causing unnecessary strife between spouses. In dating, it’s setting boundaries around sex to do it God’s way. In friendships, it’s maintaining proper balance. In parenting, it’s prioritizing church attendance, setting bedtime rules, and using proper discipline techniques.

Is there a relationship in your life that’s in a danger zone? Have you asked God for guidance to set necessary boundaries? Is there a conversation that needs to occur between you and someone else to help you thrive?

God desires our obedience, and He wants us to use relational caution tape to set boundaries around His commands. If you are struggling and in need of relational borders, seek God’s help through prayer, spend time in His Word, and get involved in the local church. His house is the best place to learn how to follow Him faithfully, to identify red flags, and stay on the safe side of the caution tape. We will find fulfillment and fire on all cylinders within our relationships when we are obedient to God and walking the path He has laid out for us!

Act

How can you set healthy relational boundaries this week? Identify what’s potentially in the danger zone, set the needed parameters, and follow through with putting the plan into action.

Pray

Dear God, Please help me to seek You and strive towards obedience. Give me the wisdom to set healthy relational boundaries and follow through with specific courses of action. Amen.