Rev Jenine  

These days a promise seems to have taken back stage in ethical practice. I don't know where we have dropped the ball where keeping a promise is concerned but it almost appears that we tend to make up our own rules as life goes on. So many relationships are broken because of broken promises and plans which are never fulfilled and sometimes are not even intended to be fulfilled. The spoken word is an incredible thing! Once a promise or the intent to do something has been put into place, then there is a spiritual principle that begins to take place in the universal heavenly realms.

A promise or the expression of an intent to "do" something begins to activate that thing which has been intended to be created and all the things in the heavenly realms begin to line up to fulfill that intent. When God created the universe and the earth, it was done with great love and intent, along with the spoken word. That word began with "thought". Thought is the powerful beginning of intention which brings new creation.

We are blessed by the thoughts of God that He has always kept his promises within the context of those thoughts and intentions. We have a universe of concrete laws which govern over the processes of life, instilled by God and are kept solid in that we can always know we have a solid foundation.

To keep a promise is a part of being divine. In opposition, to break a promise is to be less then divine or acting in opposition to the love of God.

Some of us know the hurt that is caused by a broken promise. I am almost willing to bet that most of us know what it is like. There are yet some who grew up with many broken promises from our parents due to issues such as alcohol or drug abuse. Whatever the case, a promise broken tends to rip our hearts and rend us broken in ways which we might even have become a bit numb to. For some, the breaking of promises has happened so much in life that it is almost an everyday expectation. What happens often in this case is that we will humanly back away before we sense a promise to us will be broken. In our human behavior we often will even break that promise for the person who spoke it even before they can break it because it is expected.

Whatever the case, to break a promise lacks integrity. Our relationship with God depends on our belief in His promises. For some of us it is even hard to believe God's promises because of so many of them being broken for us here on earth. We tend to place the persona onto God which we have learned by people here on earth. So, if we see a lot of broken promises in our days then we have a hard time believing that God's promises are true as well.

Marriage vows are promises before God and the breaking of these vows are one of the very most horrible of broken promises. We choose to promise we will love and care for a person through all that life shall bring until we die and leave this planet. Why do we do this so frivolously? As a minister who performs weddings, I hear couples speak these promises all the time, hoping and praying that they will be kept and honored. Breaking of the marriage vows can rip a hole in an entire family unit and cause pain that will never be forgotten. For children it might even altar their life choices because of what they feel and endure in the pain of those promises broken.

In relationships in general, a promise kept is the vision of a person who has honor and integrity. To state that something shall be so and then to not follow through causes a chain reaction in the lives of others. Since it is not only universal law, but also Biblical principle that we reap what we sow, a promise broken can cause us to have the very same done to us and a promise kept can bring us blessing and joy. I don't take these things lightly because I have seen the witness of the justice of our universe and of God. If we look closely at our lives and the lives of others, we can often see the evidence of God's divine order in situations where promises are either kept or broken.

Do you want to avoid breaking promises to others? Think very carefully about what you say, think and do. Do not act on anything you might have a hint that you can't follow through on. Sometimes we have good intention to do all we speak that we do and life seems to step in and interfere with our plans or intent. It is still our responsibility to make sure that certain things are carried out and that others are not affected by circumstances. We might not be able to control certain circumstances, but we can control our ability to make right what we intended to do or say.

God's promises are steadfast and loving with the highest of intention and integrity. His promises give us "rest" in that we can be assured that they will be fulfilled. We still have our part to play in the process as well. Hebrews 4:1 states, "Therefore, since a "promise" remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have "come short of it." Surrendering our lives over to God or Higher Power through the example of Jesus assures us that we will activate the promises of God in our lives and as a result we shall receive rest in those promises.

A lesson to be learned: Do we really want to bring havoc into the lives of those we love or to others we might affect by breaking our word to them? Do we really want to also take the risk of having it repeatedly done to us in a lesson to be learned? Real important questions to be asked here. Our word is our bond. God's word is His bond. It is the glue that keeps our relationships with others and with God in tact. Can we afford to not have that glue?

Endeavor to keep your word, live in integrity, and be the glue that brings blessing to not only yourselves but others. You will be so glad you did!

Let us be reminders to one another that promises made are promises to be kept. When others don't keep theirs gently pray that their lessons will be profound and yet met with grace as they come to the thrones of heaven and ask for forgiveness. Pray that the hardness of heart will not keep anyone from the promises of God nor cause them to reap the justice of our universal laws implemented by God.

What goes around, truly will come back around!

Blessings,
Dr.Rev. Jenine "Miana" Marie Kent
http://crossroadscounselor.com
http://www.4-talk-about-it.com