VOWS AND PROMISES

In the story, the boy makes a vow to prove that his childhood dream is a real place.  A vow is a serious, long-term promise. Have you ever made a promise? Was it a promise to yourself or to someone else? Vows and promises are often easy to make and hard to keep. It’s better not to make a promise at all, than to make one that we know we cannot keep. The best promises we make come from a sacred place that is deep inside of us sometimes called our “conscience”. We cannot see that place In an X-ray, but we know it’s there and can feel it speaking to us in a spiritual language. However, feelings are often deceptive. That’s why we have to wait for words of confirmation, an agreement from someone we trust or from words in the Bible that are understood correctly. We have to search our hearts and make sure we are doing and saying what we really mean.

Vows are usually about something that we know for sure is true and right, even though some people may disagree. Also, promises that we make are actually assurances about things we are going to do. Promises back up the words we say. Vows and promises are connected to actions rather than thoughts and imagination. Still, your imagination can help you see what might, or what might not happen, if your vows and promises are made and kept. Have you ever had to work really hard in order to keep a promise?  Usually, the promises that are important, lasting forever, are the ones that need some help, the kind of help that comes from outside of ourselves. This is what happens in the story. The boy needs help from the swirling light so he can keep his vow. He prays and asks for help. Would you feel okay about asking for help to keep an important promise? People can help you or remind you about your promises. God can provide the power to make them real and make them last.

Ephesians 5:17 – “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow. You don’t know what a day may bring.”

Ephesians 4:25 – “…you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor…”

Romans 12:2 – “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Maybe there are promises that  people have made to you. If so, what are they? Are they words or actions that were offered to you? Or was it a promise that you asked for? If someone made a promise to you, did you feel like it would be kept? Why or why not? If you’ve had promises made to you, and then broken, you know how it hurts. Are there promises that you wish would be made to you, and then be kept forever? What are they? Our imagination is not very helpful when it comes to making promises. Still, I can use my imagination about promises that I would love to have from someone. Those ideas can get totally silly and weird. For example, I wish someone would promise me that I would never run out of organic gummy bears to eat. No one would want to promise me that, and no one could keep such a promise, anyway. Thankfully, it’s not about anything important. Just for fun, can you think of a ridiculous promise that you would like to have from someone, even though you know it cannot happen, short of a miracle? Trivial promises don’t matter, and that’s why they are not a big deal. People sometimes try to keep even the unimportant promises they make, but it’s hard to do. They may fail and let us down. Do you get angry when someone doesn’t keep a promise to you? Does it matter if it is a tiny, trivial promise or an important one? Should we give second chances to people who break their promises to us?

Deuteronomy 23:21-22 – “When you make a vow to God, don’t put off keeping it…if you say you’re going to do something, do it.” 

Psalm 76:11 – “Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them…” 

James 5:12 – “…let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.”

It’s such a relief to realize that we actually do have amazing vows and promises that have been given to us. We have to admit, even with a lot of experience and imagination, we are not wise enough to know the right promises to ask for, or the ones that are best for us. However, the most wonderful promises in the universe have already been made to all of us, and then written down in the Bible, a book that is the greatest ever written. It’s also the most profound book ever written.  For example, I have a promise that I am never alone, even though I may feel lonely at times. I have a 24/7 invisible friend! have a promise that my whole life is an important role in a great drama. It’s like we’re superstars in an eternal play with other superstars acting out a huge adventure. The plot is about goodness ruling over evil for eternity. Reading about it, I get the feeling that living in this dimension of earth time is the ultimate Star Wars. Everything we do has meaning. No one has the exact same life that we do. It’s in the script. I know it’s slow going sometimes. The pace lags or goes too fast. Still, we have a promise that we will be part of the happy ending which is also a new beginning. It’s most gratifying to know that a vow has been made that I will live forever with my truest, most loving family and never get bored! Best of all, these are God’s promises, so I never have to worry that they might be broken. I know this because none of God’s promises have ever been broken yet, not once. It’s true! Check it out. Do you have a favorite promise from God? What is it and why? 

Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you…”

John 3:36 – “and anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life.”

Psalm 32:8 “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you…Don’t be discouraged…I will strengthen you and help you.”

Joan 3:16 – “…that whoever believes in him (the son of God) will not perish, but have everlasting life.”