Good morning…
When I was training in my twenties to be a Marriage and Family Therapist, I learned a lot about boundaries. Some families have rigid boundaries. Secrets and unresolved pain grow like weeds in the petri dish of a closed system. Some families are open systems, where anything goes all the time, stripping members of privacy and protection. The healthiest families have semi-permeable boundaries, opening the door to good, life-giving experiences and closing the door on potentially harmful intrusions.
A rigid boundary around a closed system look like this: ________________________________________.
A nonexistent boundary around an open system look like this: .
A semi-permeable boundary around a healthy system look like this: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
God is a Master at maintaining a healthy, semi-permeable boundary around us. We are in intimate relationship with the LORD, who both shields us from harm and showers us with trustworthy care. Each time I experience an empowering dream or a divine dialogue, a “parking lot” moment or unexpectedly being at the exact right place at the exact right time, I feel God’s heaven breaking into earth.
You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you–
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door (Psalm 91:1-3, 9-10, MSG).
Dear divine Daddy, wrapped in the outstretched arms of Your semi-permeable boundary, we trust in You and feel safe.
…Sue…
