Promises to Keep.

I remember the days of pinky-promises and my all too willingness to “cross my fingers and hope to die” if someone shared a secret with me. Of course, those promises would be broken as soon as someone else came along with something better to offer. Then came the conversation of “well, I promised I wouldn’t tell so if I tell you then you can’t tell anyone.” Can’t you picture yourself as a child making those promises?

I also remember the days of attempting to negotiate with God; those conversations always began with “I promise I’ll do this, if only you’ll do this for me…” I would commit to be faithful to my promises to the Lord, but as soon as I grew tired of waiting for His timing I would pretend as if those promises had never existed. Thus began a game of continuously making promises that I never really intended to keep. 

Today, I sat on the beach and relflected on how God has kept His promises to me. Promises to heal my heart from the many mistakes that I’ve made. Promises that He would restore my joy after the last 2 years of heartbreak in my family…that He’d give me a peace that surpasses all understanding, when it really doesn’t make sense for me to be anything but angry and bitter. Promises that He always intended to keep, but sometimes the end result seemed to be on the distant horizon.

So, today, in the midst of thinking about my future and what it holds, I decided to stop worrying and make God some promises. No pinky promises. No cross my heart and hope to die promises. No negotiating…just promises made with a pure heart.    

 1. I will go where He wants me to go.

2. I will pursue the desires He’s given me without fear of failure. Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like without people that have impacted it so greatly…you know, the Mother Theresa’s and Abraham Lincoln’s; then I realize that God has given me desires that He hasn’t given other people….so what will happen if I say no?

3. I will be joyful in all circumstances. I sat at church the other day and realized that the people sitting around me had moved closer to the front. I was sitting alone. God asked me if I was ok with that…if I could handle the fact that I might be starting a new venture without the comfort of others. I said yes.

4.My heart will pursue the love of God over any earthly love. I’m one of those girls that avoids talking about marriage; once you open up that door in your mind, it’s easy to start going down a path that is focused solely on finding a spouse. I promised the Lord I wouldn’t date anyone unless they love Him more than they could ever love me. Some days that seems a little impossible, but that’s a promise I’m willing to make. I’m done negotiating, remember? 🙂 

– Elisabeth Elliot