broken promises

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1 Kings 1:30 Be A Person Of Your Word

I will surely carry out this day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place. 1 Kings 1:30

Millions of promises are made every day all over the world. Many are just made with speaking, while many are made with some type of signed contract or agreement.

Although all of these promises are made, many of them are also broken, sometimes almost immediately. Since so many are broken, most will require a signed contract for any promise.

As David was nearing his death, Adonijah tried to take the throne as king. David said he would fulfill his promise to Bathsheba that Solomon would be the next king and made him king.

Over the centuries of time, God has made many different promises to people. The majority of those promises have been fulfilled, while others are still in the works of being fulfilled.

Believers are to be just like God in fulfilling their promises. Yet, it is common for people, both believer and non-believer, to pull back on their promise and not fulfill it. Excuses are made to give reason why they cannot or will not fulfill the promise.

It would be better for a person to never make a promise than to make one and not fulfill it. God will hold a person accountable for every idle word he makes, this includes all of his promises made in haste of the moment.

While the world is quick to break a promise, believers should be separate and different in fulfilling their promises each and every time. Doing so will show integrity and that God will also fulfill His promises. Believers are the representatives of God here on earth.

Most likely you have made some promises to other people at some point in your life. You must be willing to work at fulfilling those promises. Seek God’s help and strength to fulfill all the promises you have made.

In your future you may also seek God for wisdom on what promises you should or should not make. Do not be hasty with your words and get yourself trapped into a promise you cannot keep.

Can people count on you to be a person of your word, just as God is a God of His word, fulfilling every promise?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will give you strength to fulfill all of your promises; that you will seek God’s wisdom in making a promise; and that people will see God’s faithfulness through your faithfulness to fulling your promises.

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Joshua 24:16 Easy Made Promises

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!” Joshua 24:16

Promises are something that are easy to make, but more difficult to keep. Everyday people make many different promises in hundreds of different ways and then in a very short time break those promises.

Often promises are made in the hype and excitement of the moment, when everything is looking perfect with no difficulties. The more people involved, the easier they are to make. Then later, when difficulties arise, the promises are forgotten and broken out of convenience.

After conquering the land, Joshua reminds the Israelites of all that God had done and that he will still serve God. Then he challenges the people to serve God. The people promise to never forsake God and serve false gods.

In church settings or large group settings of groups of believers, it is common for challenges to serve God to be made. It is built up with excitement of choosing to serve God with one’s whole life and a push for commitment. Nearly everyone is quick to dedicate themselves to God.

Just like the Israelites, however, after leaving the church and meeting, people are back in the world and forget all about God. Focus is taken off of God and back on self, serving other gods of this world, pride, selfishness, alcohol, porn, money, and many other things.

The world will put pressure on the believer to forsake God and follow their false gods. Promises of pleasure and ease are made that will only bring about death and misery.

True believers will keep their focus upon God and remember their promises to serve Him alone. When temptation arises to cause them to forsake God, they will resist the devil and flee the temptation, rather than give in to it. They will not take their promise lightly.

Have you made a commitment to serve God and Him alone in your life? Do not allow the things and cares of this world distract you so that you forsake God and begin to serve the false, dead gods of this world.

Commit your whole life to God and seek His strength to fulfill that promise. God will give you everything you need to serve Him with all of your life. Trust in Him alone as you keep your promise to serve Him.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will commit your life to serving God alone; that God will give you strength to resist serving other false gods; and that God will fill you with His Holy Spirit to guide and direct your steps.

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Exodus 8:29 Don’t Act Deceitfully

Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.” Exodus 8:29

No one really likes deceitful actions. When thinking about deceit, most people will automatically think of politicians and lawyers, yet many will act deceitfully who are not a politician or a lawyer.

Many promises are made daily with never intending to fulfill the promise, but only to get something.

After getting a plague of flies, Pharaoh promises to release the Israelites if the flies are removed. Moses said he would pray for God to remove the flies, but that Pharaoh should not act deceitfully and not let the Israelites go as he has already done.

Throughout the church most people are willing to say that deceit is something that is bad and speak out against it. They will turn away from friends who act deceitfully against them.

However, many of those same people will act deceitfully with God on a regular basis. People are very quick to promise God that they will do something, if God will take care of some bad situation in their life. As soon as God takes care of that situation, their promise is forgotten. They had ‘deceived’ God into getting what they want.

Not only do these people try to deceive God, but they also do the same types of actions to other people. Just as politicians and lawyers are accused of breaking promises, many believers break their promises both to man and God.

True believers will hold true to their word, both with man and God. They will never say one thing and do another.

How often do you make a promise to someone else or to God? Now with those promises, how often do you fulfill those promises, regardless of what it may cost you?

Every time that you seek God’s help and promise Him something, be willing to fulfill it at any cost.

Although man does not know your heart, God does and can see if there is any deceit in your words. Be the person of God whose word is good and true. That when you speak a promise, others will know it will be fulfilled.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will speak words of truth to man and God; that you will fulfill all of your promises to man and God; that you will never act or speak with deceit to man or God; and that you will trust God with every promise you make.