{"id":3323,"date":"2017-01-19T02:30:15","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T08:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/?p=3323"},"modified":"2017-01-19T02:30:15","modified_gmt":"2017-01-19T08:30:15","slug":"promises-dont-intend-keep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/2017\/01\/19\/promises-dont-intend-keep\/","title":{"rendered":"Promises You Don’t Intend to Keep"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re just a couple of weeks removed from people asking the question\u00a0\u201cWhat are your new year\u2019s resolutions?\u201d I\u2019ve heard a wide variety of answers to this question over the years, and they have varied from fitness goals, to pledges to be more organized, to desires to grow relationships with God and others, and everything else in between. Sadly, statistics show us that many have already given up on those resolutions that they made.<\/span><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s admirable to have goals for a new year, be wary of making promises that you don\u2019t intend to keep.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do I mean by that?<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Disney animated movie \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d the Beast is looking for ways to keep Belle at the castle, but in a kind manner, so he consults Lumiere and Cogsworth \u2013 a talking candlestick and a talking clock, respectively \u2013 for advice. Cogsworth suggests \u201cflowers, chocolates, promises you don\u2019t intend to keep<\/b>,\u201d but the Beast opts to give Belle an entire library instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why am I highlighting this random scene in a Disney movie, and what does it have to do with us as Christians? For starters, the fact that making empty promises is a suggestion to help someone feel more at ease should be unsettling. We should not be verbally setting goals \u2013 especially when it comes to our faith \u2013 just to fit in with everybody else, nor should we be declaring such intentions without planning on following through just to make those around us feel better. After all, God didn\u2019t just promise that Abraham would have innumerable descendants to help him feel more comfortable about uprooting his entire life and move to Canaan (Hebrews 6:13-18). <\/span><\/p>\n

Not only that, but whatever promises we make, whether they relate to our health, our mind, our actions, or our relationship with God, we need to be honest with God and ourselves when we make them. And my best advice when you don\u2019t know what to work on this year is to pray. Pray that God will reveal to you the things you need to change, and He will be faithful in helping you through whatever comes your way.<\/span><\/p>\n

All this being said, not all promises are or will be empty. Our best example is the God we serve; \u201cNot one word of all the good\u00a0promises\u00a0that the\u00a0Lord\u00a0had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass\u201d (Joshua 21:45).<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what promises can <\/i>\u2013 and should<\/i> \u2013 we make this new year in regards to our faith? Here are a few to get you started:<\/span><\/p>\n