October 3, Keep Your Word

Today’s reading: Psalms 11-15

“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?. . .
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind” (Psalm 15:1, 4b).

Psalm 15 gives a few behavioral tendencies that the Lord expects from His people. The psalm starts with two questions, and then goes on to answer them with specific practices. In verse four, the behavior to focus on today is keeping your word and not being fickle. The violation of this principle is rampant among believers. When you say, “I will pray for you,” and then don’t, you have broken your word. When you say, “I’ll be there,” and you’re not, you have broken your word. When you say, “I will call you and we’ll get together,” and you don’t, you have broken your word. When you say, “I’m going to pray more,” and you don’t, you have broken your word. When you say, “I will be part of that group or team,” and then don’t show up, you have violated the principle David described in verse four. It would be better for you to say nothing than to give your word and not follow through. Are you in the habit of doing this? Where do you need to go back and apologize for your lack of follow through? Do you even see this as an issue or is it not that important? From this point forward, try not to say so much and then just go do it, rather than promise and disappear.