The power of our words. How often do we find ourselves not following through with the words we said or declared? Promise by definition means: A declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. To assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will happen. I want to spend a moment of your time talking with you about the broken promises we make; whether we do them intentionally or not we are all guilty of breaking our word.
Here are a few broken promises I am guilty of:
Hey, I will call you back.
I will see you later.
I’ll be there.
Sign me up, I am all in.
I’ll get you something.
I’ll pray for you.
What are some broken promises you can think of that you are guilty of making?
I’ve been processing writing this blog for over a month and to be honest I’m still struggling. I want to hold true to my word, I want to follow through with everything I say but for some reason it doesn’t always work the way I want it to. Majority of the time when I break my word it is because I forgot what I said I would do or I remembered and it was too late. Please tell me I am not the only one this happens to? I know I’m not. 🙂 Life, our schedules, the busyness, our attention spans all play a role into not holding true to our word. I know this concept of breaking promises may sound minute or not a big deal but really it is. It bothers me and I’ll be the first to admit I need to make some changes.
There’s a text in the Bible that haunts me. Okay, maybe not haunts me but it is what I think of often when it comes to making promises. I think of the earthly words I declare and make to people but even deeper than that the words I make and declare to God. Check out this Scripture:
When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin.– Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
Did you catch the last sentence? “Don’t let your mouth make you sin.” Yeah, about that… 
Me: So God, You’re saying every time I don’t hold true to my word or something I say, I commit a sin?
God: Yep
I want to share some lessons and some practicality to holding true to our words so that we don’t fall into sin because of the words we say:
Lesson 1: Don’t make a promise, say something or make a commitment that you are not willing to do everything possible to make sure it happens.
Lesson 2: Follow through with everything you say.
Lesson 3: Write down the promises and words you commit to others so you will not forget.
Lesson 4: Pray and process before you speak it.
Lesson 5: Apologize to people and seek forgiveness including to God when you don’t follow through with your words and assure to them and God it will not happen again. – Make sure it doesn’t happen again!
There is room for us all to grow. There is room for us to get better. May we continue to push ourselves to be the best we can be. May we be people of integrity, holding true to our words. May no person find an ought against us. May people remember us for being a people that follows through on all we say. Most importantly, may we live out the words we speak to God and to people. May our message speak loud through our actions.
Josh Samarco 