Friday, October 2, 2026

Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Ezekiel 37-42 | 1 John 2

Growing up, my children were taught the importance of preparedness. My husband ensures the cars have emergency kits in case of a breakdown and that there is wood for the stove and oil for the lamps in case of a power outage. "Two is one, and one is none" is a phrase you’ll often hear in the Pagel house. While it generally elicited an eye-roll from our kids when they were younger, somewhere deep down they recognized the value of their dad’s lesson.

A few weeks back, my daughter got to experience the benefit of staying ready. She was traveling to our cottage up north and arrived when it was pitch dark. No problem—she had a flashlight in her glove compartment. Except... it didn’t work. This flashlight wasn’t ready to go.

When it comes to effectively managing boundary breakers, “Stay Ready” is an important tool. We see this same mindset in Nehemiah 4:23:

During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.

Although the stench of not changing their clothes might have been enough to keep their enemies away, Nehemiah and his men weren’t taking any chances. They remained prepared even during the most mundane tasks, and so must we.

Unfortunately, boundary breakers tend to be persistent. They generally don’t just go away, and if they do, others may take their place. This is the consequence of living in a broken world. Often, the conflict goes beyond the person across from us; ultimately, it is a spiritual battle designed to break us down (Ephesians 6:12).

But it doesn’t have to. Not if we stay ready.

How do we do that? Building a consistent practice of spiritual disciplines helps us put on the armor of God. Reading Scripture is your sword. Trusting and worshipping God regularly is your shield. And for shoes, put on the peace that comes from resting in him. We can practice this by taking a true Sabbath, or simply by carving out quiet time each morning or evening. These habits keep us anchored and alert when we encounter boundary breakers, allowing us to be a light in the darkness.

Speaking of darkness, while that first flashlight failed, my daughter didn’t skip a beat. She reached into her purse, pulled out the second flashlight she kept at the ready, and was able to proceed confidently.

Questions:
Where could you increase your spiritual preparedness?

Which spiritual practice do you think would be most helpful when it comes to managing boundary breakers?

Next Steps:
Choose the day(s) and the time(s) you will do the “most helpful” spiritual practice you identified above. Appoint someone to be your accountability partner: someone to check in with you and see how it’s going. 

Remember it's not about being perfect with the execution, but instead about developing habits that will help you stay ready as you manage boundary breakers.

Prayer:
Lord, as I consider my response to boundary breakers, I admit I’m not always as ready as I could be. I often try to muscle through on my own effort rather than preparing myself by putting on the armor you offer through your Word and trusting in you. Give me the heart to draw close to you through Scripture, worship, prayer, and rest so I can be ready to respond to boundary breakers in a healthy way. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.