Have you ever made a promise to God that you didn’t keep? His Word tells us that it is wrong to do things that He tells us are sins. So, maybe you promised Him that you were going to stop doing something that doesn’t please Him, and at the time, you were sure enough about your conviction that you made a vow to God about it. Or, maybe you promised to do something for Him and His Kingdom, but you didn’t follow through? It happens to many of us, but it's important to remember that promises to God are serious. He takes us at our word, so when we make promises or vows to God, we need to keep them. If we don’t, we should be aware that breaking these promises can have consequences that we really don’t want.
For example, imagine you promised God that you were going to read your Bible every day. You read 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT), which says, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” This verse tells us that reading and studying the Bible is what our Heavenly Father wants all of us to do, and you commit to Him to do better. You start out doing just what you promised, but then other things start to clash with your reading and studying time. Slowly, you abandon your promise. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is. God cares about the promises we make. When we don’t keep our word, it can mess up our blessings.
In Numbers 30:2 (NLT), it says, “When you make a vow to the Lord, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vows.” This shows us how serious God is about the promises we make. If we vow to do something, we need to follow through. But before we make a vow to God, we should make sure we have developed a habit of walking by the Spirit, so that we understand how the Spirit helps us and we recognize his voice. Our faith in the Spirit’s help and guidance gives us the confidence that we can keep the vows and promises we make to God.
The truth is, sometimes it’s easy to make promises when we’re feeling good or motivated, but when temptation hits, it can be harder to keep them. So, if you know something is tough for you to do, like breaking a bad habit or giving something up, maybe instead of making a promise you might not keep, ask God to help you. Philippians 4:13 (NLT) reminds us, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”God’s Holy Spirit lives within us, and he can help us overcome challenges.
Asking for God’s help before making a promise will set us up for success. So, the next time you’re thinking about making a promise to Him, think carefully. Make sure you’re ready to keep your word, and if you’re not sure, ask Him for help first.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“When We Fail to Honor our Promise to God”, written for aheartforchristdevotions@blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
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