FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Inner Vows - Rev. Trudy Daley
Matt: 5: 33 “Again, you have heard that
the ancients were told, “You shall not make
false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to
the Lord.”
When we think of vows, we usually think
of wedding vows when we make promises
to our future spouses. Many of us make
vows that we don’t even realize that we
are making, such as when we say, “I will
never” ---- and then say one of the
following: trust anyone, let a man/woman
control me, let anyone hurt me, have
children, grow up, sing in public, etc.
There are many ways we could end the
sentence, “I will never.”
Saying those words seems harmless
enough. How could they possibly hurt
us? We may even say them in jest and
then forget that we even said them.
BUT----- these words act like instructions
in the computer of our mind and heart and
cause us to resist change. By setting these
instructions in our mind and heart
whenever we act, they influence our
behavior and choices. It is as if we have
been set on railroad tracks that keep us
within certain limitations and direction. We
may think that if we want to we can just
change, but until the vow is canceled the
instructions remain. The inner vows we
made in childhood and then have forgotten
and remain hidden are the most powerful
ones. Receiving Jesus does not wipe them
out or alter them and neither does
maturation.
Our minds and hearts create behaviors
which help to reinforce the vows we have
made, such as automatic angers when the
subject of the vow is brought up. If one
has vowed to never let anyone disrespect
them, and then someone does, this angry
response will take place. Anything relating
to the vow may create fears and anxieties
which cause us to withdraw or react in a
specific way. Inner vows imprison us at
many levels --- physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually. Compulsive
behaviors may be an indication of an inner
vow.
You may be asking yourself what is wrong
with what seems to be a positive inner vow
such as, “I will always do the right thing”?
When our behavior is driven by our desire
to be righteous, then God’s desire for us to
have His righteousness through Christ
Jesus is thwarted. The Word calls us to
make no vows in Matthew 5:33. We
should renounce all inner vows both good
and bad, so we can change in the ways
that God is calling us to. How can we do
this? First, we should ask God to reveal to
us any inner vows that we may have
made. Often these were when we were
children and they had to do with our
interactions with our parents, caregivers or
siblings. Try to remember the things you
disliked about them, having to do with the
way that they acted or treated you.
Second, if you remember the
circumstances that caused you to make an
inner vow, forgive those people involved in
hurting you and ask God to forgive you for
your reaction to that hurt and all the ways
you have behaved over the years because
of the inner vow you made. Then ask God
to break the power of all vows that you
made and to destroy all the structures that
you created to support that vow, through
the name of Jesus Christ. If nothing
comes to mind when you ask God to show
you any inner vows you have made, ask
God to break all inner vows you have made
known and unknown and the structures
that support them, through the name of
Jesus Christ.
God wants us to be free to be the people
He has called us to be, so check your heart
and mind to see if you have made some
inner vows that need to be repented of and
broken so that nothing can limit what God
can do in and through you.
Concepts for this article taken from: “The
Transformation of the Inner Man” by John
and Paula Sanford
Matt: 5: 33 “Again, you have heard that
the ancients were told, “You shall not make
false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to
the Lord.”
When we think of vows, we usually think
of wedding vows when we make promises
to our future spouses. Many of us make
vows that we don’t even realize that we
are making, such as when we say, “I will
never” ---- and then say one of the
following: trust anyone, let a man/woman
control me, let anyone hurt me, have
children, grow up, sing in public, etc.
There are many ways we could end the
sentence, “I will never.”
Saying those words seems harmless
enough. How could they possibly hurt
us? We may even say them in jest and
then forget that we even said them.
BUT----- these words act like instructions
in the computer of our mind and heart and
cause us to resist change. By setting these
instructions in our mind and heart
whenever we act, they influence our
behavior and choices. It is as if we have
been set on railroad tracks that keep us
within certain limitations and direction. We
may think that if we want to we can just
change, but until the vow is canceled the
instructions remain. The inner vows we
made in childhood and then have forgotten
and remain hidden are the most powerful
ones. Receiving Jesus does not wipe them
out or alter them and neither does
maturation.
Our minds and hearts create behaviors
which help to reinforce the vows we have
made, such as automatic angers when the
subject of the vow is brought up. If one
has vowed to never let anyone disrespect
them, and then someone does, this angry
response will take place. Anything relating
to the vow may create fears and anxieties
which cause us to withdraw or react in a
specific way. Inner vows imprison us at
many levels --- physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually. Compulsive
behaviors may be an indication of an inner
vow.
You may be asking yourself what is wrong
with what seems to be a positive inner vow
such as, “I will always do the right thing”?
When our behavior is driven by our desire
to be righteous, then God’s desire for us to
have His righteousness through Christ
Jesus is thwarted. The Word calls us to
make no vows in Matthew 5:33. We
should renounce all inner vows both good
and bad, so we can change in the ways
that God is calling us to. How can we do
this? First, we should ask God to reveal to
us any inner vows that we may have
made. Often these were when we were
children and they had to do with our
interactions with our parents, caregivers or
siblings. Try to remember the things you
disliked about them, having to do with the
way that they acted or treated you.
Second, if you remember the
circumstances that caused you to make an
inner vow, forgive those people involved in
hurting you and ask God to forgive you for
your reaction to that hurt and all the ways
you have behaved over the years because
of the inner vow you made. Then ask God
to break the power of all vows that you
made and to destroy all the structures that
you created to support that vow, through
the name of Jesus Christ. If nothing
comes to mind when you ask God to show
you any inner vows you have made, ask
God to break all inner vows you have made
known and unknown and the structures
that support them, through the name of
Jesus Christ.
God wants us to be free to be the people
He has called us to be, so check your heart
and mind to see if you have made some
inner vows that need to be repented of and
broken so that nothing can limit what God
can do in and through you.
Concepts for this article taken from: “The
Transformation of the Inner Man” by John
and Paula Sanford
Alone - Rev. Trudy Daley
Recently throughout the United States, we
have witnessed natural disaster after
natural disaster. These disasters have left
people homeless, in debt and struggling.
As we watch these events on television,
we feel sorry for the people and think to
ourselves, “How terrible that is!” And then
it happens to us! As we move through the
emotions of disbelief, despair,
hopelessness, anger, fear and devastation,
we search our minds for explanations of
why and why me? We may say to
ourselves, “Well, I thought that God was
suppose to protect me and my family.
Why didn’t God send the storm elsewhere
where fewer people would be impacted?”
At times like these one can feel very alone
and wondering where God is. Recently,
one pastor friend I have has had to face
uterine cancer, her son going to jail, and
then the death of her daughter in a car
accident. Another pastor friend has had to
face breast cancer, financial struggles and
her children and grandchildren going
through job losses and many other
struggles. In spite of all these things, both
women have remained steadfast in their
faith and continued to trust God in the face
of these struggles.
As times continue to become more
difficult, each of us may be faced with
many trials, and how we choose to
respond to them can be a tremendous
witness to others. Even during normal
times there are many situations that we
have on a daily basis, and one of the
significant ones is the sense of being or
feeling alone. As the divorce rate
continues to climb and children move
further and further away to establish their
own lives, we are often faced with being,
or at least feeling, alone. I have lived by
myself for over twenty years, and my only
immediate family lives about two and a half
hours away. In spite of these facts, I can
honestly say that I don’t often feel lonely
even though I am alone. God has blessed
me with wonderful and loving friends.
These people have become my spiritual
family.
In these days of struggle, hardship and
devastation, it is important for us to
become aware of those around us who are
alone and may need our help. As a society
we have become so busy and distant, I
would dare say many of us don’t even
know who are neighbors are and what
their situation is. I would challenge you
today to make an effort to find out about
the people around you; see if they are alone
and see how you can be a help to them.
Yes, I am sure that you are busy, but we
should never be so busy that we don’t
have time to demonstrate the love of God
to others. We are His voice, hands, and
feet and the one source that can reflect His
love and heart to others and draw them to
Him.
Alone –Another View
As I stated earlier in this article, I have
been alone for over twenty years. I use to
question God about why this was so, as I
feel many of you reading this have also
done. It has taken a long time for me to
come to a place of peace about it, and I
feel led to share it with you so that those of
you who may be in that place can ponder
what I say. We are not alone because we
are unlovable or undeserving of someone in
our lives to love us. We are not so
dysfunctional that we are incapable of a
relationship, nor so fearful of commitment
that we avoid one at all costs. It is not fate
that has destined us to be alone or, as some
might think, bad luck. I have come to the
conclusion that it is indeed God who has
called us to be apart to serve Him better.
When we were young, we would never
have considered going into a convent or
becoming a priest, but perhaps, as we have
lived out our lives, we have come to
recognize that God has uniquely prepared
us to do now that which earlier in our lives
we were not yet ready or willing to do. We
now have the time, energy and resources
to do it. Age is never a barrier for God,
for those of you who may be saying that
you are too old to be starting something
new. You are a vital resource that God
can use to accomplish His purposes. Your
duties as a mother or wife may be
complete, and you may have retired from
work. You are exactly the person that God
can use. Perhaps you have gifts that God
gave you that you have never been able to
develop. It is not too late. It was only
after I retired that I began to do a radio
show and write for this newspaper.
My second challenge to you in this article,
is for you to ask God what He has set you
apart to do, and when you get an answer,
do it. Ask the people around you how they
think God can use you, if you don’t get
your own answer. Being alone can be
another way that you are free to do what
God wants you to do and can be a great
blessing.
Recently throughout the United States, we
have witnessed natural disaster after
natural disaster. These disasters have left
people homeless, in debt and struggling.
As we watch these events on television,
we feel sorry for the people and think to
ourselves, “How terrible that is!” And then
it happens to us! As we move through the
emotions of disbelief, despair,
hopelessness, anger, fear and devastation,
we search our minds for explanations of
why and why me? We may say to
ourselves, “Well, I thought that God was
suppose to protect me and my family.
Why didn’t God send the storm elsewhere
where fewer people would be impacted?”
At times like these one can feel very alone
and wondering where God is. Recently,
one pastor friend I have has had to face
uterine cancer, her son going to jail, and
then the death of her daughter in a car
accident. Another pastor friend has had to
face breast cancer, financial struggles and
her children and grandchildren going
through job losses and many other
struggles. In spite of all these things, both
women have remained steadfast in their
faith and continued to trust God in the face
of these struggles.
As times continue to become more
difficult, each of us may be faced with
many trials, and how we choose to
respond to them can be a tremendous
witness to others. Even during normal
times there are many situations that we
have on a daily basis, and one of the
significant ones is the sense of being or
feeling alone. As the divorce rate
continues to climb and children move
further and further away to establish their
own lives, we are often faced with being,
or at least feeling, alone. I have lived by
myself for over twenty years, and my only
immediate family lives about two and a half
hours away. In spite of these facts, I can
honestly say that I don’t often feel lonely
even though I am alone. God has blessed
me with wonderful and loving friends.
These people have become my spiritual
family.
In these days of struggle, hardship and
devastation, it is important for us to
become aware of those around us who are
alone and may need our help. As a society
we have become so busy and distant, I
would dare say many of us don’t even
know who are neighbors are and what
their situation is. I would challenge you
today to make an effort to find out about
the people around you; see if they are alone
and see how you can be a help to them.
Yes, I am sure that you are busy, but we
should never be so busy that we don’t
have time to demonstrate the love of God
to others. We are His voice, hands, and
feet and the one source that can reflect His
love and heart to others and draw them to
Him.
Alone –Another View
As I stated earlier in this article, I have
been alone for over twenty years. I use to
question God about why this was so, as I
feel many of you reading this have also
done. It has taken a long time for me to
come to a place of peace about it, and I
feel led to share it with you so that those of
you who may be in that place can ponder
what I say. We are not alone because we
are unlovable or undeserving of someone in
our lives to love us. We are not so
dysfunctional that we are incapable of a
relationship, nor so fearful of commitment
that we avoid one at all costs. It is not fate
that has destined us to be alone or, as some
might think, bad luck. I have come to the
conclusion that it is indeed God who has
called us to be apart to serve Him better.
When we were young, we would never
have considered going into a convent or
becoming a priest, but perhaps, as we have
lived out our lives, we have come to
recognize that God has uniquely prepared
us to do now that which earlier in our lives
we were not yet ready or willing to do. We
now have the time, energy and resources
to do it. Age is never a barrier for God,
for those of you who may be saying that
you are too old to be starting something
new. You are a vital resource that God
can use to accomplish His purposes. Your
duties as a mother or wife may be
complete, and you may have retired from
work. You are exactly the person that God
can use. Perhaps you have gifts that God
gave you that you have never been able to
develop. It is not too late. It was only
after I retired that I began to do a radio
show and write for this newspaper.
My second challenge to you in this article,
is for you to ask God what He has set you
apart to do, and when you get an answer,
do it. Ask the people around you how they
think God can use you, if you don’t get
your own answer. Being alone can be
another way that you are free to do what
God wants you to do and can be a great
blessing.
Do you have an article that you have written? Would you like to share a poem or
prayer? Please submit any proposals to the following email address for
consideration.
tija@tri-uneministries.com
prayer? Please submit any proposals to the following email address for
consideration.
tija@tri-uneministries.com
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