04.14.12 - The Truth About BOUNDARIES
We've been having Honest Talks About Sex & Dating for 5 weeks now and have hit on some great topics, scriptures, and have engaged in some great discussions during small groups. My home is that during this series your family has taken the opportunity to discuss this topic in greater depth.
This week we're taking it back to the basics and discussing some practical ways to setup boundaries. Here are 6 Practical Boundaries that may help. Discuss these families as a boundary, and add on to them if you can. Which of these sounds helpful and what are some boundaries you can implement today! Have fun!
- Date A Christian: I know this sounds basic but setting this boundary will help tremendously. It's hard to pursue purity when you're dating someone who doesn't live their life to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Date someone who lives out their faith and is actively pursuing a life of faith and purity.
- Guard Your Mind: What movies are you watching? What magazines are your reading? What music are you listening to? What type of conversations are you engaging in? Protect your mind from the lies of this world. The things we put in our mind will affect our pursuit of purity so protect your mind from things that are holy. Remember that we should be striving for holiness (I Peter 1:16).
- Set A Game Plan: If you're currently in a relationship you may need to have a "HALFTIME ADJUST" and if you currently aren't dating, or never have, then sit-down and create a "PREGAME PLAN" that's in place for when this part of your life does arrive. I would suggest that your game-plan is written down and maybe is even something that you sign with your parents and/or small group leader.
- Ask 4 Accountability: In Ecclesiastes 4:12 we learn that God created us to be stronger as a team. Find a person in your life who isn't struggling in the area you need accountability and ask them to touch base with you on a regular basis to ask you the tough questions. Parents, small group leaders, or a mentor can all be great accountability partners. Asking your friends who are struggling in the same area's is better than nothing but isn't the best idea.
- Create A Safe Atmosphere: Thinking about the atmosphere you allow yourself to be in can be huge. Think about your atmosphere before you enter it, then then think creatively about how you can make the atmosphere safe. Don't be home alone with the opposite sex; always make sure someone's around; don't shut doors; stay in a group setting; have your dog in the room; be outside; setup privacy settings on your computer (xxxchurch.org).
- The 3 On's: If/when you're in a relationship keep what I call THE 3 ON's in your mind. These are three simple boundaries Doug Fields encourages teenagers to keep.
- Keep your clothes ON
- Keep the lights ON
- Stay ON your feet
