Protecting Your Boundaries

Protecting Your Boundaries | Devotional

Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines.
1 Samuel 17:1–2

The Old Testament story of the encounter between the armies of Israel and the Philistines were the resultant effect of incursion of the forces of Philistines that had waged war into the territory of Israel.

The Philistines had come into the territory of the Israelites to wage a war against them, and this assault of the Philistines upon the Israelites was a battle to determine the destiny of the people of Israel.

The Philistines were intruders in the land that belonged to Judah. The land was given to the Israelites in a covenantal relationship the Lord made with Abraham, reaffirmed with Isaac and Jacob, and then reiterated to Moses and Joshua to lead His people to the Promised Land.

However, the enemy [Philistines] had come into the territory of Israel to wage a war against her, even though the land rightfully belonged to them.

The Philistines had infiltrated into the physical territory of Israel, the people of God, and it was there that the giant Goliath was breathing out his defiance.

As a result, the people of Israel were fainthearted and trembling at his sight. A sad reflection and vivid picture of the people of God rendered helpless and spineless before their enemies.

Physical territory is real and visible, but we also have the reality of spiritual territory as well. With physical territory, the owner is legally responsible for whatever happens to his or her property.

Similarly, with spiritual territory, one is responsible for taking control of his or her own life and guarding jealously against the soul. Spiritually, the enemy is furiously determined to gain access into the territory of your spiritual life.

Thus, Peter says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

It is therefore important that we strategically discern the enemy’s devices to infiltrate into our territory of life. Should we open the gates of our boundaries to the enemy to control and impact our lives? Whatever your territory might be, you need to react to its invasion.

How do you defend your territory of life if there is an incursion? You may be a beautiful person on this earth, but as long as you belong to the Lord, get ready because the enemy will try to wage an incursion into your personal territory of life.

Are you going to be helpless? What giants are looming in your life right now? What giants are infringing on your territory to hinder you to live out a purposeful Christian life?

Remind yourself of this truth: With the physical territories of Israel, the Philistines intruded into their land though they had no right to be there to possess the land. They were marauders and needed to be driven out.

We need to recognize the truth that spiritually, the enemy intends to invade our lives if the gates to our lives are open to him.

Essentially, the enemy has no right to invade our lives. But if we don’t take responsibility of our own lives and guard ourselves against the onslaught of the enemy of our souls, we will find ourselves embroiled in the web of the enemy.

It is God’s will that enemies should not be allowed to invade our lives; boundaries should be set for them. Enemies are trespassers and should be resisted at all costs.

You have to set boundaries and limits for them! It is an undeniable fact that whoever takes over the territory of your life will possess you.

Therefore, you have to take possession of your life’s territory and guard it jealously in order to render the enemy inaccessible to your territory of life.

Thank You, LORD, that I am attentive, watchful, and spiritually robust to resist the enemy invasion into my life. Lord, by Your Spirit I am grateful for Your help. Amen.

Suggested Further Reading: 1 Peter 5:8–9; James 4:7.

Prayer

Father Almighty, how grateful I am to know that with Your help, I can win the battle of life. LORD, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Father, I know that in this battle of life, I am not alone, for the greater One, Jesus Christ, is with me.

Father, I believe in Your Word, and with Your help and Your Spirit, I declare war against all marauders and infiltrators intending to invade my territory of life.

Today, I declare in the name of Jesus Christ all my enemies inoperative and ineffective. In the mighty name of Jehovah God, I pray. Amen.