Keep Your Boundary Up!

 

But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” 1 Samuel 17:28, NLT Keep Your Boundary Up When David’s oldest brother overheard him asking some soldiers about the reward for killing the giant Goliath, he belittled David, trying to manipulate him into feeling small and insignificant. David could have let his brother control him and tried to play up to him, thinking, “I have to get Eliab to accept me. He’s family. What do I have to do to win his approval?” But David had a boundary up. His attitude was: “I don’t need his approval to feel good about who I am. I’m going to run my race and focus on my goals. If he doesn’t like it, that’s too bad.” When someone’s critical of us, it’s tempting to try to prove who we are, to convince them to like us. If you fall into that trap, you’ll end up controlled and manipulated by what they want. You have to do as David and be at peace with who’s not at peace with you. Be okay with who doesn’t accept you. You don’t need them for your destiny. Take the high road. Be loving. Be kind. But keep your boundary up. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You are not limited to seeing me as other people see me. Thank You that You see my heart, and You have qualified me to do what You want me to do. I declare that I will not allow how others treat me or what they say to determine my value and self-worth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”