Never Make a Vow Unless it’s to Never Take a Vow (but even then you’ll probably fall short…)

Vows are a funny thing…most times they feel like the righteous thing, but alotta times I think they're a religious thing that leads to trouble.

In recent years, Markel & I removed “always & never” from our vocabulary when the topic is people AND we are careful with our yes’s and no’s. If you think about it,  the ONLY Unchanging One is our ALWAYS-faithful, Alpha & Omega God!

I read a story this morning about Saul & his son Jonathon. The Israelites are in a losing battle against the Philistines. Saul camps on the outskirts, while Jonathon does something about it.

He leaves the army with his armor bearer. The Lord leads Jonathan (with an earthquake to boot!) to single-handedly turn the tide of the battle!

Exhausted at day’s end, he eats some honey, not knowing he’s breaking a vow his father had made.  Earlier in the day, Saul placed all of the warriors under oath that anyone who ate anything before evening would be cursed.

When Saul hears that someone didn’t obey, he rushes into another vow-that whomever broke the oath would be killed.

When he discovers that it was his own son, he hastily takes a 3RD OATH that if Jonathan doesn't die by day’s end, may God Himself kill Saul dead! WOWZA!

Jonathan’s death was spared by the pleas of the people, but it’s super ironic that Saul had to break HIS vows to spare his son from the consequences of breaking Saul’s own vow…🥴

I asked Markel this morning if there is any statement that is always true when it comes to people & he got me! He said people will always die. 😳 Let that sink in…the always-truth about people is that we all have an expiration date.

We all will always die, but that binary moment will be affected by a decision we make while still alive.

Will we utter the words that are inherently true about us? That we are sinners in desperate need of a Savior!

We will NEVER make our way to eternity with a holy God unless a Redeemer pays our debt 👉🏽 & that’s Jesus!

So there you have it…one always & one never about people that will always be true.

Holy Spirit, guard our mouths so we do not hastily say yes or no. May we be slow with our words & ONLY speak irrefutables when they align completely with Your Truth! 

#oneyaerbible #siftedwords #thesiftedlife

May 13th One Year Bible Readings

1 SAMUEL 14:1-52

JOHN 7:31-53

PSALM 109:1-31

PROVERBS 15:5-7

The Importance of Sifted Words

When I was in grade school & our photos arrived, we’d cut apart our pics & swap. My 4th grade photo wasn't all that stellar. My hair was a mess, my glasses seemed huge & I think I forgot it was picture day because I didn’t wear anything cute.

When I handed my photo to a friend, she said, “Oh Kimmy, you’re so beautiful!”

I was like, “Is she looking at MY photo?

I quickly replied, “No, my hair was a mess-you can be honest, I know I look bad.”

I remember the moment like it was yesterday because what she said next was so full of wisdom, that it felt like a verbal spanking.😳

“Why would you speak about yourself that way?  You are a daughter of the Most High God Who created you, why would you dishonor Him with such negative self talk?”

My eyes welled up with tears because she was right (& I was a little embarrassed.)

It’s a silly example, but I think it’s easy to talk to self in a similar way when we mess up. (I’d lose many friends if I spoke to them with the same sneer of contempt that I’ve spoken to myself. 😬)

Solomon likens gentle words to a tree of life. The word for “gentle” comes from a root that means wholesome & healthy, giving cure & health.

The rest of the proverb gives the flip, telling how a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. I confess that there’ve been occasions where my self-talk matches the definition of deceitful: twisted, vicious, & overturned.

When we fail at something, it can be easy to allow thoughts or words that overturn Truth & rob us of the life that God intends.

Philippians 4:8 gives us a clear filter for our words. What if the next time we miss the mark (or someone else messes up?) we ask these questions:

Are these thoughts or words:

True

Noble

Right

Pure

Lovely

Admirable

Excellent or praiseworthy?

If they don’t promote health & give cure to the hearer, they aren’t from God & can’t be good.

Jesus, You said he who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Remind us of Your Truth that we are fearfully & wonderfully made in Your image & that our past has no power when the Holy Spirit reigns. Remind us that there’s  nothing that can separate us from your love. Sift our words, thought or spoken, to match Yours!

#OneYearBible #siftedwords #thesiftedlife

May 12th One Year Bible Readings

1 SAMUEL 12:1-13:23

JOHN 7:1-30

PSALM 108:1-13

PROVERBS 15:4