PROMISES,
PROMISES
PROMISES
© Karen Murphy Photography
Sometimes children say things to us
that prick our hearts so deeply we only stare in amazement that they would say
such profound words. Then we realize they are speaking back to us what we have
said to them. We didn’t think they were listening, but suddenly out of the blue
there it is. Spoken in the same words we
had shared with them. And it hits home. Right to our hearts. If there was any
doubt whether they were hearing us or not, now it is gone and it is too late to
take those words back. Too late to say you are sorry or to correct it. I
wonder… is it too late with God?
that prick our hearts so deeply we only stare in amazement that they would say
such profound words. Then we realize they are speaking back to us what we have
said to them. We didn’t think they were listening, but suddenly out of the blue
there it is. Spoken in the same words we
had shared with them. And it hits home. Right to our hearts. If there was any
doubt whether they were hearing us or not, now it is gone and it is too late to
take those words back. Too late to say you are sorry or to correct it. I
wonder… is it too late with God?
It has occurred to me of late, how
many times I have told God I promise to do such and such. Then comes a day that
I realize I did not keep those promises. In Ecclesiastes we are told it better
to not to promise than to make a vow
and not keep it. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay
to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is
better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And
do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake…” (NIV)). I’ve tried to live my life that way. I rarely
make promises to anyone. Except…myself. I’ve made promises over and over to lose
weight, get my house clean, exercise, read my Bible and pray more often…the
list goes on. And isn’t that the same thing as promising to God or others, only
doing it privately in your heart?
many times I have told God I promise to do such and such. Then comes a day that
I realize I did not keep those promises. In Ecclesiastes we are told it better
to not to promise than to make a vow
and not keep it. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay
to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is
better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And
do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake…” (NIV)). I’ve tried to live my life that way. I rarely
make promises to anyone. Except…myself. I’ve made promises over and over to lose
weight, get my house clean, exercise, read my Bible and pray more often…the
list goes on. And isn’t that the same thing as promising to God or others, only
doing it privately in your heart?
BUT I DON’T KEEP THEM.
So now what do I do? I’ve broken my
promises to myself and to God. Where do I go from here? I would suspect you
would tell me to seek repentance, forgive myself and then go and do what I
should have already been doing. Because to know to do right and not to do it is
sin. Correct? (James
4:17, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it
is sin for them.” (NIV)).
promises to myself and to God. Where do I go from here? I would suspect you
would tell me to seek repentance, forgive myself and then go and do what I
should have already been doing. Because to know to do right and not to do it is
sin. Correct? (James
4:17, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it
is sin for them.” (NIV)).
God
gives second chances but does He give third and fourth chances? I sure hope
so. I think I’ll take Him up on it and
find out.
gives second chances but does He give third and fourth chances? I sure hope
so. I think I’ll take Him up on it and
find out.
GOLD INTENTIONS
The road to good intentions is
paved with purest gold
paved with purest gold
it shines upon our faces filling
us with wondrous hope
us with wondrous hope
it can lead us on a pathway of
strength, resolve and victory
strength, resolve and victory
but often times it only leads to
guilt, despair and misery.
guilt, despair and misery.
Time goes by paved with gold
intentions
intentions
every day giving the gift of
making good decisions
making good decisions
yet only in making the decisions
that are right
that are right
will our gold intentions become
reality instead of regret.
reality instead of regret.
~Marcell Warner Bridges
©June, 2013
Dear Jesus, thank You that You keep Your
promises to us. That You never fail us and You love us, ready to forgive when
we ask. Thank You that You never give up on us.
promises to us. That You never fail us and You love us, ready to forgive when
we ask. Thank You that You never give up on us.
© Marcie Bridges, Heart Thoughts 2013
This makes me think of the power of words and the reality that the Lord ALWAYS hears us. I loved your reminder that folks around us hear the words as well.
Thank you Nan. It always surprises me how God speaks to people in different ways with what we write. 🙂