Boundaries

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. PSALM 16:6



She was at it again. Our eccentric neighbor was in our yard trimming our bushes and pruning our trees. When we built our home, we were blessed with a big backyard 150 feet from our backdoor neighbor. The "Smiths" had lived in their home about 14 years before we came along and had landscaped the back third of our lot as if it were their own. When we bought the property, Mrs. Smith was not happy that we were encroaching on her annex. Over the next several years the boundary line again grew a bit fuzzy for her. Gradually she began inching her way back into our yard, acting as though it were her own.

Finally, after years of pleading, we did what we shoudl have done in the first place. We put up a fence.

This reminds me of what Satan tried to do in our lives. Before we knew Jesus Christ, Satan pretended we were his. He planted thoughts in our minds, sinful acts in our wills, and insecurities in our emotions. But God purchased us at a very high price, and we became His treasured prossessions.

Satan knows where the boundary lines around our hearts lie, but just like Mrs. Smith, he creeps back in to plant a little thought here, a little temptation there. The next thing we know, he's standing on a ladder trimming our trees! Well, maybe not our trees, but he's lopping off areas of growth and whacking at anything within his reach.

So what do we do when we see the enemy creeping back on our purchased territory? Weshow him the title deed signed by God and put up a fence of faith to keep him out! Works every time.

From the book "Extraordinary moments with God" by Sharon Jaynes