Daily Devotion - Thursday, January 6

Five Thoughts for a New Year

“Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead life to a sovereign place.”
--Tennyson

The new year is well underway. This first week of the year I am sharing some basic thoughts that help me in my work. Hopefully they will be helpful to you as well.

THURSDAY: Each day is all about living within your boundaries.

As we continue looking at some thoughts that I find helpful, we must look at a very significant subject: boundaries. This can be a tough one. Some of you when reading the subject began to vision borders or walls. Some of you, on the other hand may have thought, "the sky is the limit." Life lived successfully is really about exploring what your boundaries are and then living within them.

A few years ago a friend decide to set some new boundaries for her care giving. For years she shared her gifts with marginalized people within her home church. She performed her tasks with great compassion. Then she decided to expand her boundaries and spend time with the homeless of her community. She now finds great joy in serving those who have no walls around them. Boundaries can be redefined; knowing them and living within them is critical

In these challenging times are you aware of your boundaries? Are you content? Is living within them right for you or do you need to broaden your boundaries? Living within them is the practice of self-control.

--Ben Keckler
01.06.11