Boundaries

How do I set boundaries for healthy connection? 

 by Aliene Thompson

Breaking free from codependency is like breathing in the fresh air of real freedom for the first time. This spirit-filled, refreshing God-first way of living is so incredible you vow never to go back to the unhealthy relationships you once entertained. 

Finding security in intimacy with God, you might reason it’s safer to be with Him – only Him. Putting your heart out there again seems too risky. 

But deep down, you know that God created you for connection. You feel nudges from the Holy Spirit, to put your heart back out there again. But moving forward feels confusing. You know you need to move forward – but the “what ifs” surface.

What if I make a mistake and get involved in an unhealthy relationship? 

What does a healthy connection look like, and how will I know?  

I no longer need people; I am free from codependency – isn’t that right?  

Who can I trust? 

At this point, you could close the borders of your heart with Jericho-sized walls and signs that say KEEP OUT… or… You could take God’s hand and let him lead you his way to share your heart again.  

Join me for a teaching message from Deuteronomy 2 today as we gain biblical steps of faith to navigate a new season of healthy connection with others. It’s time for your new season.  

Watch Today’s Message on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube Channel to catch the latest messages, or you can scroll below to listen to this message on our podcast.

Discover how to set boundaries God’s way AND support Treasured Ministries at the same time.

Join the Treasured Tribe, access our new Boundaries are Biblical class, and find a supportive community to cheer you on!

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Moving from Codependency To God Dependency

The word “love” is thrown around a lot these days. Philosophers, politicians, talk show hosts, social media, and musician’s lyrics tell us that love is the answer to our hurt and broken world. The call to love echoes around the world, and yet chaos and hate abounds.

Why? 

According to the Bible, God is not only the creator of love, he IS love and so the truth is you cannot take him out of the equation. To truly love, you have to love God first.

Not having God in my love equation is why I lived in my codependent confusion for so many years. Don’t get me wrong, I went to church, but God did not want my religion, he wanted an intimate relationship with me. It’s not that I didn’t love; I didn’t love God first. 

I ran to people first for comfort.

I pleased people first to navigate my day.

I loved. I served. I gave. But God was not first. 

And like the woman at the well in Samaria who ran to people to fill her cup but continued to rotate in an unhealthy cycle coming up empty, I pursued love hard under a religious canopy and withered – until I discovered the source of my confusion and living water. I had the wrong equation. It was a matter of redirecting my efforts. It wasn’t that I didn’t love; I didn’t love God first. 

When you drink of his living water, it is true what His Word says – you will never be thirsty for love again. And out of that abundance, you can genuinely love others as God intended. In today’s message, gain clarity on real love – God’s love so you can shift your dependency on him, and love as he intended. 

ONWARD!

▶️ Watch the teaching message on YouTube or listen to the audio podcast.

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Moving from Codependency To God Dependency

The word “love” is thrown around a lot these days. Philosophers, politicians, talk show hosts, social media, and musician’s lyrics tell us that love is the answer to our hurt and broken world. The call to love echoes around the world, and yet chaos and hate abounds.

Why? 

According to the Bible, God is not only the creator of love, he IS love and so the truth is you cannot take him out of the equation. To truly love, you have to love God first.

Not having God in my love equation is why I lived in my codependent confusion for so many years. Don’t get me wrong, I went to church, but God did not want my religion, he wanted an intimate relationship with me. It’s not that I didn’t love; I didn’t love God first. 

I ran to people first for comfort.

I pleased people first to navigate my day.

I loved. I served. I gave. But God was not first. 

And like the woman at the well in Samaria who ran to people to fill her cup but continued to rotate in an unhealthy cycle coming up empty, I pursued love hard under a religious canopy and withered – until I discovered the source of my confusion and living water. I had the wrong equation. It was a matter of redirecting my efforts. It wasn’t that I didn’t love; I didn’t love God first. 

When you drink of his living water, it is true what His Word says – you will never be thirsty for love again. And out of that abundance, you can genuinely love others as God intended. In today’s message, gain clarity on real love – God’s love so you can shift your dependency on him, and love as he intended. 

ONWARD!

▶️ Watch today’s teaching message on our YouTube channel and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

To sign up for a FREE weekly devotion from Aliene and other resources for your faith journey click here: http://treasuredministries.com 

Join the Treasured Tribe and connect with Aliene on weekly zoom calls, gain access to all Treasured Tribe Bible Studies, our private online social platform, app, digital Nourish Notebook, and much more. To learn more, click here: https://treasuredtribe.com 

To donate to Treasured Ministries: http://treasuredministries.com/donate/

Want to make a difference? Here are three ways you can help our ministry grow at no cost to you: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast. 

2. Write a review of the podcast. 

3. Forward the episode to a friend.

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Healthy Biblical Help for Those You Love

For years, I was a rescuer and wore that role like a badge of honor and gained identity out of helping others.

I stepped in, tried to fix things I could not control, and lived in frustration.

On the days when I could swoop in and save the day, gosh – it felt great to be the hero. 

When my hands were tied to fix a situation, I felt like a failure and was frustrated.

I felt like my role was to rescue… but it wasn’t. The truth is, God is the real rescue for you and me. And for our children and those we love, the goal is God dependency, not codependency.

Releasing my need to rescue was one way God helped to unravel my codependency, and a part of that journey was God showing me a different way to respond to help others that was better, biblical, and healthy. Everything shifts when you redirect your energy from rescuing to responding to God’s way, and you discover that there is no care like God’s care for you and those you love.

Listen to today’s message and release your need to rescue by discovering a new way to respond.

▶️ Watch today’s teaching message on our YouTube channel and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

To sign up for a FREE weekly devotion from Aliene and other resources for your faith journey click here: http://treasuredministries.com 

Join the Treasured Tribe and connect with Aliene on weekly zoom calls, gain access to all Treasured Tribe Bible Studies, our private online social platform, app, digital Nourish Notebook, and much more. To learn more, click here: https://treasuredtribe.com 

To donate to Treasured Ministries: http://treasuredministries.com/donate/

Want to make a difference? Here are three ways you can help our ministry grow at no cost to you: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast. 

2. Write a review of the podcast. 

3. Forward the episode to a friend.

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Releasing Your Need to Rescue So Others Can Rise to Their Full Potential 

There is nothing more difficult than watching someone you love fight a battle – especially when you keep trying to rescue this person from trouble and they don’t respond. But what if rescuing is not the right answer? What if this battle is the very resistance necessary for that one you love to rise to their full potential? 

Codependents feel a strong pull to rescue others and can feel like failures if they can’t fix the situation. But sometimes stepping in prevents others from stepping up. Sometimes letting go is the most loving thing we can do. 

Inside today’s message, discover four reasons why codependents love to rescue and how you can respond differently so that battles will shape rather than shake your faith and the faith of those you love.

ONWARD!

▶️ Watch today’s teaching message on our YouTube channel and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

To sign up for a FREE weekly devotion from Aliene and other resources for your faith journey click here: http://treasuredministries.com 

Join the Treasured Tribe and connect with Aliene on weekly zoom calls, gain access to all Treasured Tribe Bible Studies, our private online social platform, app, digital Nourish Notebook, and much more. To learn more, click here: https://treasuredtribe.com 

To donate to Treasured Ministries: http://treasuredministries.com/donate/

Want to make a difference? Here are three ways you can help our ministry grow at no cost to you: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast. 

2. Write a review of the podcast. 

3. Forward the episode to a friend.

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Why Precautions Prompted by the Holy Spirit Are Not Self-Protection

Sometimes the Holy Spirit can prompt us with cautions towards certain people, and when this happens don’t be surprised if the enemy attacks God’s truth by accusing you of self-protection or preservation.

Now we all know that the enemy will twist God’s truth and use scripture to attack, but when this happens, it can be very confusing – especially for codependents because we are rule followers and we want to do things just right for God. Beware when the enemy uses this confusion over a Holy Spirit precaution to come knocking on a past closed door of codependency with a current deception. 

Here are three very deceptive ways the enemy works:

• Turning your integrity against you with lies like setting boundaries is selfish.
• Knocking at a past door of oppression that you’ve already closed.
• Gaslighting you with scripture to confuse you. 

It’s time to close the door on his schemes!

In order to keep the door shut you must pay attention to precautions about certain people as prompted by the Holy Spirit. Boundaries are not selfish, they put God first and maintain your freedom. That is what we are talking about in today’s message.

You’ve got this because God has you!

▶️ Watch today’s teaching message on our YouTube channel and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

To sign up for a FREE weekly devotion from Aliene and other resources for your faith journey click here: http://treasuredministries.com 

Join the Treasured Tribe and connect with Aliene on weekly zoom calls, gain access to all Treasured Tribe Bible Studies, our private online social platform, app, digital Nourish Notebook, and much more. To learn more, click here: https://treasuredtribe.com 

To donate to Treasured Ministries: http://treasuredministries.com/donate/

Want to make a difference? Here are three ways you can help our ministry grow at no cost to you: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast. 

2. Write a review of the podcast. 

3. Forward the episode to a friend.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Spotify | More