Promises, Promises

1 John 2:5 (NIV)

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:

Here are some guidelines for each of us regarding making promises.

1. Don't make a promise unless you are 100% sure you can follow through.

This mean you have to take the time to think the promise through thoroughly before you make it.

2. If you can't make the promise because you aren't sure, then be prepared to share your reasons for NOT promising.

It will happen that you don't always have all the facts, and when it does, it's better to NOT make the promise

3. If something arises that you can't keep the promise you already made, be prepared to share your reasons for NOT keeping that promise.

When you sit down and openly explain the reasons why you cannot keep your promise, it will go a long ways towards helping them to understand.

4. Be prepared to try and see things from the other’s point of view.

When this happens, make an effort to try and see things from their point of view, and if you can do so without compromising your own, take their ideas into consideration!

5. If you don't have a valid reason for not doing so, KEEP THAT PROMISE!

Once you've established yourself as one who keeps your promises, people will be much more likely to see you as someone they can trust, as someone they can come to when they need something, as someone they can come to when they are having problems. And, most importantly, when you teach them that God keeps all of His promises, they will believe you.

Dear Lord, help us to be very careful when we make a promise so that those that know us we see us as honest people and people of our word. So that when we share with them that You keep Your promises they will believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.