When praying these past few days about what to write, I kept hearing in my spirit, “draw a line.” I am sure He is not talking about physically drawing lines on sidewalks with chalk or paint but to draw the line in setting boundaries in our lives. In this sense, drawing a line is a decision to set limits and priorities in our lives; to what we are willing to do or not do, or willing to allow or not allow.

Everyone needs limits and boundaries to help to keep order, balance, and stability in their lives. At the beginning of each new year people make resolutions to what they want to change in their lives. According to the dictionary a resolution is a “process of resolving; the action of solving, or a solution.” Did you catch that word “process?” In our resolutions we are attempting to solve a problem in our lives, but we need to realize that these resolutions are only the beginning. Further steps, or decisions, are necessary to complete the process in reaching our goal. In the beginning it is easy to set boundaries but the truth is that it takes work to maintain those decisions. It takes commitment, consistency, and perseverance on our part. We must keep a close watch on our schedules so we do not “over-book” every day with activities to the point where they push out our time with the Lord.

The best way to keep our lives balanced and in check is to inquire of the Lord and received His input about each decision of activities before us. Yes, He is interested in every aspect of our lives. Why? Because He knows that when we are faithful – even in these earthy things – we will be faithful also in spiritual matters too. (Luke 16:10-11)

A truth everyone deals with in this life are decisions of what activities to be involved in. There may be nothing wrong with any of the activities in and of themselves; the problem comes when we allow too much of this life’s activities, or even responsibilities, to take us away from spending time with our Lord. If we allow ourselves to get too busy with earthly activities then we will not have time or energy to do the work of the Lord. When that happens, those things begin to become “gods” to us.

God said in Exodus 20:3 to “have no other gods before me.” The best way to curtail the possibilities, and temptation, of getting off track is to purposely set a specific time for reading and studying our Bible and praying and stick to it. This decision reveals the spiritual condition of our heart. I have found in my life that this is not a one-time decision but a daily act of faithfulness to my God. Each day has its own possibilities of how we spend our time and energy. We must make the decision to put God first in our lives. This involves the decision to get up a few minutes early, if necessary, to start our day with Him, to decisions of what kind of shows we watch on the television and what kind of music we listen to. Each decision has its own importance in the process of drawing the line of what we allow in our lives. It basically comes down to how much of God do we want in our lives.

So, I encourage you to follow the instruction in Colossians 3:23, “whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men.”  Colossians 1:10 tells us that when we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, we will be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God. When we put God first in our lives, every aspect of our lives falls into balance and keeps us stable in all our ways. Go ahead, draw some lines of commitment, and see how God will miraculously change your life.