February 21
Reading – Numbers 28 – 30
How many times have you rashly promised to do something, only later stopping to think about what you have done? I have always had a difficult time saying no, I am your classic people pleaser. So many times I have made a promise to do something, just to try to please someone or to get them to quit nagging me about it. Later I nearly always regret the promise and either drop the commitment, which isn’t right, try to palm it off on someone else, or only give it a half-hearted attempt, which isn’t right either.
God is telling us that a promise should be seriously considered before it is made, and once made it is never to be taken lightly or palmed of on someone else. A promise once made is to be considered binding and must be fulfilled. I wonder how many promises would be made if this were taken seriously.
I made a promise to myself when my daughter was born that I would never make a promise to her that I was not sure I could keep. If there was any doubt in my mind about the feasibility of an action, or if there was a possibility that we might not be able to do something, I would not promise. As a result, I did not have to break promises to her, would that I had carried that over into other places in my life.
Pray about a decision, an action, or a promise before you make that vow of commitment. Is this what God wants from you? Or is it something you are being pressured into doing either by your own desire to please or someone else’s need to palm something off on you. Pray and consider the consequences before you commit, but once committed give your whole being to the fulfillment of that vow.
Heavenly Father, remind me constantly to not be rash in my promises, but to consider your will for me, my own talents and abilities, my other commitments, and my desires and dreams. Lord guide me in all such promises so that each one I make will be fulfilled to the best of my abilities. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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KayDee Ward....All Rights Reserved