How Often Do We Make Promises We Don't Intend to Keep?

The lady felt she had no chance to live; her cancer had begun spreading over her body. The doctor had spared her with a remarkable catch of the cancer before it spread too far; she felt the Lord had spared her life, and for that she was grateful.

She made many promises to the Lord that she would eat better, exercise and spend more time in church; but of course, she started out that way and soon slipped from her promises.

Nine months later, the woman died of the same Cancer that she thought she had been spared from.

Oftentimes, we don't realize how grateful we should be when our lives have been spared. I know that when we fall, and are picked up-we have all these vows and promises that we are going to do things the right way from that point on. But we fail to keep those promises. And I believe that it is then, that we 'fall-off'; we tend to become in an even worse state than before we were spared. But why?

Why is it that when people fail to commit themselves to promises, things fall even more? Do you remember a time in your life when you were saved by the grace of the Lord, or any other source of relief? What promises did you make once you were saved? Now, tell us did you keep those promises? What happened after you did or didn't?

I ask these questions to help to get to my point. And my point is this: If you keep your vows, things will progress in a productive manner! I'm not saying that you have to believe in God, or claim victorious in the name of Jesus (which may not be a bad idea, people!), but I'm saying that if you stick to your words, your actions will follow, thus leaving you with a positive outcome.

These promises that are being made, are simply being made for your benefit, right? Right! So, when you make these promises, you are actually getting yourself ready for improvement. But, how often do we realize that these are improvements and not forced obligations? Yes, I said forced.

It's always that one sense of being forced to do something that holds us back with procrastination. And we all know that once procrastination sets in...It's good as over! Procrastination is the number one killer of promises, believe me.

Now, back to my point; I have witnessed many people do what we call 'backsliding'. Backsliding occurs when we have made a promise to break a habit or something other, and return to the habit or action that we once wanted to break free from. This is a well-known statement (in one word) and has been stated in the Bible, as well as in everyday language. And when a person 'backslides', it's generally a bad thing. But tell me this, why would a person backslide? WOW, now that's a different story/article altogether, right? I figured so.

Now, when you began to make promises just because you feel obligated, don't do it. You have to make vows and set goals for the betterment of yourself, not because you feel like it's the right thing to do. This is only setting you up for what we call 'backsliding', in which is not a good thing. So, when you have been spared, will you make a change or a promise?