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Do you remember the last time you made a vow or promised someone to do something, and then later, found out that, for some strange reason, the promise that you made had not been fulfilled?
The other day, I made a couple of vows as well:
1) to attend church regularly, and
2) to donate more of my time to worthwhile projects or actions that would involve making this world a better place to live in.
But daily routines such as shopping, cleaning our house, driving to various meetings, doctor's and dentist's appointments, laundry, and preparing meals filled my days. By the time I thought about my vow, a week had passed by, and the vow in making this world just a little bit better had been neglected — swept under the carpet by making excuses and putting my priorities in the wrong place.
Ecclesiastes 5:5 – It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. (NASB)
I remember when my husband and I made promises to each other over 47 years ago: "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part."
My husband had a mini stroke over two years ago, and there are times when I get frustrated by certain actions on his part. But there are good times as well. The temptation to leave and make excuses is very easy, but then, I think of my vow, "In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part." It is by the grace of God that I am able to fulfill my promise and cope on a daily basis.
Sometimes, things happen that are unexpected, tragic, and horrifying, when our vows are broken, despite our best efforts, and cannot be mended. It is in those times that we need to call upon the grace and mercy of Jesus in repentant humility. He is our Saviour and Redeemer, Who knows what we are going through, and Who promises to forgive us.
Psalm 86:5 – For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (NKJV)
Prayer: Merciful God, You must get very tired of hearing our broken promises and vows that we can't seem to stick to. You also know what is in our hearts and why sometimes we can't stick to the vows that we have made. You know the situations that we are in, and You are there with us, forgiving us when we can't seem to forgive ourselves. Amen.
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Well said Rosemary.
Thank you Rosemary for sharing this very important message. Blessings on your week.
Rosemary,
You make the world a better place every time you write a devotional. Thank you.
Thank you again, Rosemary. Again, your timeless message and reminder hits home.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this, Rosemary. I would like to make a suggestion. Maybe, just maybe, you are making a difference in the world by carrying out your responsibilities – in your home – appts, etc etc. It is ALL done for God’s glory.
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for this devotional and others you take the time to share with so many of us. It sounds like you are “blooming where you are planted”.
May God continue to give you the grace and strength to carry on keeping your vows.
God bless you!
Dear Rosy
How very true this is. Sadly, I too inadvertently break vows – not with great deliberation, but just by the very events of each day is all it takes. So, my dear, you are not alone.
Thank goodness, for a loving, caring and forgiving God.
I am thoroughly enjoying your devotionals.
God’s blessing upon you, today and always.
Hello Rosemary.
I have just read your devotional for today, and I think you missed out on something.
Do you not believe that caring for an ailing husband, shopping for his needs, taking him for Dr. appointments, and the little loving caring things you do each day, constitute “making the world a better place”? Sometimes we view only the big projects and high profile volunteer activities as those that have worth, forgetting that those little unsung chores we do as part of our daily routine, are also valuable contributions to a needy world. Without realizing it, you ARE keeping your vow!!
I always enjoy your contributions to PrebyCan. Keep up the good writing, and may God bless you richly!!
Rosemary,
Your openness amid a time of struggle is so encouraging as we all have our struggles in life.
My mother’s long illness and many mini strokes leaving her now with dimentia and our need to ask for help in Long Term care has been a sad thing to have to do.
She gets infections often and her mood changes and naturally she lashes out at us. But I know it is not her fault really and often a key to saying I am not well and we find out it is a bladder infection or something else.
Some treatable and some not.
The confusion is difficult for her and for us. I have found I need more time away than with her. There is a transition and balance somewhere in all of this.
You are in my prayers Rosemary. May God encourage you and give you the support you need. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Rosemary. Blessings.
Thank You.
Your devotional is a needed reminder for me.
Recently, I’ve had a very trying time.
Thank you, Rosemary.
My prayer for you.
FATHER, I ask in the name of JESUS, that you rain down blessings of health, happiness & prosperity all of Rosemary’s life until her last earthly blessing when she is taken by her hand to the eternal home you have prepared for her.
AMEN & AMEN
(Texas USA)
Such a real issue with most of us. The trouble is we run into the truism “that the only good intentions are good intentions followed through.” And that comes with a load of guilt because we don’t do it intentionally So what is the answer? Don’t make any promises?