Keepiing Vows by Viki Nelson

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 50:14 NLT “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the Most High.”

OBSERVATION
Your Observation: God did not say “Please complain whenever you want because you won’t be getting your way many times in your life. You poor thing; your life has had so many disappointments. There might be times when your way is actually higher than My way.” Nor did God say “I thought it over and I agree with your cultural concept that “Promises are made to be broken. Little white lies don’t matter to me. Hey, nowadays even the big lies are no big deal if you’ve got a good reason.” Ouch, is that how we think? Remember, it was Satan who tried the “Did God really say…?” line on Eve and Jesus. Eve fell for it, Jesus didn’t. Jesus showed us how to overcome yet we still fall for “the lie of the day” because we want to. We think we know better than God but we refuse to admit it - even to ourselves. We team up with the Father of Lies against the Most High. Think about that. Whose side are we on?

APPLICATION
God told me to “Be in the world but not part of it.” Why do I so easily forget I am Kingdom People? It’s not okay for me to speak and act like everyone else. This past Sunday Pastor Roger jolted us awake with a seemingly hilarious video segment concerning a “five-dollar for five minutes” psychiatrist with a novel therapy for his new client. Each time she related another irrational fear or destructive behavior, he forcefully told her “STOP IT!” Although the Holy Spirit probably doesn’t resemble Bob Newhart, I need His help to jolt me back towards God-thinking and acting. I need to remember who I really am and where I’m headed.

PRAYER

God, this scripture of yours has shined a light on places in my heart where I have not wanted to look - but I am looking now. I admit that I have worn the Christian mask of looking good and saying the right things while seething inwardly. I am sorry for being a professional Christian. Jesus called that kind of person a “white-washed tomb” because when I act like that, my words are full of death. How horrible. I want my words and actions to have God-Truth, God-Life and God-Power in them. Lord, will you help me? I need the Holy Spirit to remind me to STOP IT when I get off-track. This is going to sound weird, but thank you for being God. You know what I mean. I trust you to work all things out for my good because I am called according to your purpose. Thanks also in advance for helping me – You never let me down. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.