Dumpster Fire DEVO - Day 8

Day 8: Triggered by Boundaries
By Pastor Casey Taylor

READ 1 Kings 21:8-10

“Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him” (v.30). How would you like that to be the summary of your life? Ahab and Jezebel were one of the Bible’s bigget dumpster fires. They stirred up chaos in the personal lives and caused chaos for the nation. Ahab’s assault on Naboth could’ve been predicted.

So could his response. Ahab frequently reacted badly when he didn’t get his way. In 1 Kings 20:20, he reacted to a prophet’s sermon by becoming “sullen and angry.” Sound familiar? “So Ahab went home, sullen and angry” after Naboth said, “No.” “He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.”

In his book, “Boundaries,” Dr. Henry Cloud says, “When we begin to set boundaries with people we love, a really hard thing happens: they hurt.” People who don’t respect boundaries lose it when they meet one that won’t budge. You’ve probably met one of those people. Is it possible you sometimes (or a lot of times) are one of those people? How do you respond when you don’t get your way?

REFLECT: When have you responded poorly to someone else’s boundary? How do you handle being told “No,” and how can you improve your response?

PRAY: Lord, help me grow in maturity when it comes to boundaries. Teach me to set healthy limits that protect my heart and honor You. Amen.