Living On Purpose In Christ | Boundaries, Devotions, Positive Affirmations, Bible Study, Christian, Faith, Life Balance

51 | How to Unlock Holy Spirit Verses: Surprising Biblical Boundaries Every Christian Woman Needs to Know

• Paula Behrens | Certified Aroma Freedom (AFT) Practitioner, Pastor, Christian Coach • Season 2

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Biblical boundaries often get a bad rap in Christian circles. Many view them as restrictions that limit our freedom in Christ, but what if the opposite is true? What if boundaries are actually God's divine protection system—sacred guardrails designed not to constrain us but to create the space where true spiritual freedom flourishes?

This eye-opening exploration of "Unlocking Holy Spirit Verses" reveals how recognizing and respecting boundaries can transform your spiritual life. Starting with the profound wisdom of Proverbs 4:23—"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it"—we unpack the biblical foundation for setting healthy limits in five critical areas of Christian living.

Discover how relationship boundaries honor both yourself and others, reflecting the Matthew 22:39 principle of loving your neighbor as yourself. Learn from Mary and Martha's story about establishing time boundaries that prioritize Jesus over busyness. Explore how taking thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and filtering them through Philippians 4:8 protects your mind from destructive patterns. Understand emotional boundaries that prevent anger from giving "the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27). And finally, see how structured spiritual practices create space for deeper connection with God.

As a former pastor who struggled to maintain boundaries while serving congregations full-time, I share personal insights about how embracing limits ultimately enhanced my ministry. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by obligations, struggling with people-pleasing, or simply seeking a more balanced spiritual life, these biblical principles will equip you to live with greater intention and peace. Ready to experience the freedom that comes from God's loving boundaries? Listen now and transform your understanding of spiritual health forever.

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Paula Behrens:

Are you ready to transform your spiritual life by understanding the power of biblical boundaries? In this episode of Unlocking Holy Spirit Verses, we'll explore how recognizing and respecting boundaries can lead to true freedom and deepen your relationship with the Lord. Join us now to discover profound and essential principles that will help you align your life with God's wisdom and peace. Hey friend, welcome to Living on Purpose in Christ. Do you find it challenging to maintain regular spiritual practices or long for a consistent daily quiet time with God? Want to align your emotions through biblical principles and find peace in your relationships?

Paula Behrens:

Hi, I'm Paula and I've been in a place where balancing spiritual practices with a busy life was a real struggle. I wanted to connect with God daily on a deeper level. However, my approach to prayer, journaling and studying scripture lacked consistency and structure, making it challenging to truly deepen my relationship with God. When I first began my seminary work while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized, but, truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos there was a lesson. We're all just doing our best in this journey of faith, a beautiful work in progress.

Paula Behrens:

Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you. As a laid-back grandma and dedicated podcaster, I'm passionate about helping younger women balance home life with their spiritual journey.

Paula Behrens:

I've also created a special covenant family bundle for moms that I think you will absolutely love. It includes two devotional journals, a train-up a child guide, and a Bible study designed for women who wish to reflect Christ in their marriage. Let me share a review from one of our listeners. Krystal writes these Christian journals are beautifully designed and provide a peaceful space for reflection and prayer. The quality is exceptional and they've truly helped to deepen my faith and spiritual practice. Thank you, Krystal. Your input means the world to me. Okay, so grab this free collection now by typing in bit. ly/faithfulfamily. That's B I T . (Dot) L Y / faithful family ( no spaces). Or look for a link in the show notes. You'll be glad you did. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible Dust off that journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage. And let's dive in.

Paula Behrens:

Looking back on my time as a busy pastor, it feels as fresh in my memory as if it were just yesterday. In those fervent years, I discovered the importance of carving out personal time amidst the whirlwind of sermons, services and pastoral care. It wasn't easy at first, but I began to intentionally block off time for my Sabbath day of rest each week, treating it with the same reverence I offered to my congregational duties. This commitment not only nourished my soul and rejuvenated my spirit, but also allowed me to serve God's people with renewed vitality. Now, having retired from the pulpit, I still hold on to those lessons and cherish the importance of setting aside time for rest and reflection.

Paula Behrens:

Today we're going to dive right into a topic that at first glance might surprise some. It's a journey into understanding the biblical boundaries every Christian needs to know, specifically through the lens of what I am calling Unlocking Holy Spirit Verses. Now you may be asking why boundaries? Isn't freedom a fundamental part of our walk with Christ? And yes, absolutely it is. But here's the key True freedom often comes from knowing where our boundaries lie. Boundaries are not meant to restrict us. Rather, they are divinely designed to protect us and guide us in our walk with God.

Paula Behrens:

To start this journey, let's talk about Proverbs, chapter 4, verse 23, which says Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. This verse lays the foundational principle for boundaries. Our heart, our spiritual core, is incredibly valuable, not just to us but to God. Protecting w hat is precious inherently involves setting boundaries. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to discern what needs to be let in and what must be kept out. So how do we apply these principles practically as Christians? Well, let's identify some areas where understanding and setting biblical boundaries can transform our daily lives.

Paula Behrens:

First, boundaries in relationships. Yeah, you knew I was going to start there, didn't you? One of the most pertinent areas where boundaries are vital is in our relationships. The Bible encourages us to love one another, but it also gives us insights into managing healthy relationships. In Matthew, chapter 22, verse 39, Jesus says love your neighbor as yourself. Note the inclusion of as yourself. This invites us to consider self-love, which fundamentally requires boundaries. By setting boundaries, we are not only respecting ourselves, but also modeling what it looks like to love others in a Christ-centered way. This concept isn't about selfishness. Rather, it's about acknowledging your worth as a creation of God and caring for yourself in a way that will ultimately allow you to serve others more effectively.

Paula Behrens:

Boundaries help define where one person ends and another begins, allowing for mutual respect and healthy interactions. By setting boundaries, we honor our own needs and limitations, making sure that we aren't depleted or overwhelmed. This personal integrity ensures that when we give to others, we're doing so out of abundance rather than out of depletion or obligation or resentment. Boundaries can include saying no to things that drain us, taking time for rest and renewal, and prioritizing activities that nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Remember Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 3,. It says be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing one another in love, make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. Here, boundaries help maintain unity and peace. They are not about saying no to loving others, but about ensuring that there is a mutual and healthy exchange in our relationships.

Paula Behrens:

Second boundaries with time. Time is a gift from God, and how we use it should honor him. The story of Mary and Martha in Luke, chapter 10, verse 38 through 42, highlights this perfectly. Martha was distracted by the preparations, but Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing his presence over the busyness. Setting boundaries with our time means prioritizing what truly is the most important. Ask yourself what activities draw you closer to God and where you might be wasting time. It may require saying no to good things in favor of the better or the best things, those that deepen your walk with Christ and fulfill his purpose for your life.

Paula Behrens:

Third boundaries and thoughts. Second Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 5, tells us to t ake captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Our mind is a battlefield, and setting boundaries with our thoughts ensures we are aligning with God's truth and promises. How do we filter our thoughts? Well, Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8, gives us a wonderful checklist. It says, finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Having this as a backdrop helps us recognize when thoughts need to be redirected or surrendered to God.

Paula Behrens:

Fourth boundaries in emotions. The Bible encourages us to experience and express our emotions, but it also calls us to temper them with the fruit of the Spirit, including self-control. Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 26 through 27, wisely guides us. It says, in your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Now, this isn't just about anger management. It's a call to place boundaries around our emotional responses so they don't become destructive. By inviting the Holy Spirit to help us manage our reactions, we can find peace and clarity even in emotional storms, demonstrating our trust in God's sovereignty over our circumstances.

Paula Behrens:

Finally, it's crucial to have boundaries in our spiritual practices. Colossians 3, verse 16, encourages us saying, Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Having dedicated time for scripture, prayer and worship is not just a good habit. It's a boundary that protects our spiritual health. Consider setting regular appointments with God, just as you would for other commitments. Structure is not unspiritual. Rather, it creates room for depth, intentional connection and quality time with our Lord.

Paula Behrens:

As we wrap up today's episode, let's quickly recap the practical ways we, as Christians, can apply biblical boundaries in our daily lives. First, boundaries in relationships. We learned that setting boundaries in our relationships is a reflection of self-love and a way to model Christ-centered love. By respecting ourselves, we can maintain unity and peace, aligning with Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 2 and 3. Two boundaries with time Inspired by the story of Mary and Martha, we are encouraged to prioritize our time, focusing on what draws us closer to God. This might mean saying no to good things to embrace the best, those activities that deepen our walk with Christ.

Paula Behrens:

Three boundaries in thoughts we discussed the importance of taking every thought captive to align with Christ. Four boundaries in emotions we explored how to temper our emotions with the fruit of the Spirit, particularly self-control. Ephesians 4, verse 26 through 27, reminds us to manage our emotional responses so they don't become destructive. Lastly, we emphasize the importance of setting boundaries in our spiritual practices. Colossians 3, verse 16, encourages us to let the message of Christ dwell richly in us through dedicated time for scripture, prayer and worship. Okay, as you go about your week, remember that setting these boundaries is not only biblical but also essential for fulfilling life as a Christian. May you find strength and peace in these practices and may they draw you ever closer to your Lord.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you found this helpful. If you're interested in taking this a little bit deeper and want to explore how essential oils can support your journey of setting biblical boundaries and enhancing your spiritual practices, let's get on an Aroma Freedom coaching call. Look for a link in the show notes. Okay, let us close with a prayer.

Paula Behrens:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the wisdom of your word and the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Help us to establish and maintain boundaries that will honor you, protect our hearts and promote love and unity with those around us. Lead us in your truth and guard our path as we seek to live intentionally and purposefully in Christ. It is in his precious and Holy name that we ask these things. Amen.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say "no" to things that don't serve you well--like that third piece of cake at the church potluck! If you've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you could leave us a review, share it with a friend, and subscribe now. And don't miss out on today's freebie available at bit. ly/faithfulfamily. That's B I T . (DOT) L Y / faithful family (no spaces). And make sure to check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into him and walking in his wisdom. See you next time.