KEEP YOUR WORD

• DAY 84
• Fear File: The Spies To Jericho
• Scripture: Joshua 6:22-24

But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.

The more I study and write about overcoming fear and living a life of faith and courage, the more I realize that faith affects our entire character more than I thought. Because faith is a God quality. It is evidence of the presence and power of God in a person’s life. Courage comes from fellowship with God and the closer you get to God the more like Him you become we know that God always keeps His word.

In our text today we see a woman we know too well, Rahab. Remember her? We talked about her in our study 3 days ago (click here to read) She was promised by the spies that her family will be saved. Now it was time for them to make good on their promise. And true to the nature of a person of faith, they kept their word.

Check Yourself

This particular day is calling me out. I feel like God is coming at me today. Because I am examining myself. Do I keep my word? Have I kept every promise I made or just the big ones? Do I keep my word to myself, my God, my husband, my clients, and everyone else? Ask yourself this same question.

Many of us will be quick to say no because we keep the big promises like going for a meeting or buying someone a gift but what of those smaller ones? What of the promise you made to eat healthier, to manage your anger, to appreciate your husband more?

Because it takes courage to keep those ones too. But even more than that it takes courage to acknowledge that you failed.

Often times when we realize that we cannot keep our word we hide. At least I do. I often hide under false pessimism. I believe I can still make it. No, you can’t. You have a meeting for 7 pm and it is 6:45 pm and you are 3 hrs away. Yes you planned to be there, it was in your plans but you failed, own up to it, apologize, and go the extra mile to do better.

Your Word Is Law

Imagine that these spies failed to keep their word to Rahab, maybe no one would have found out but God would have been displeased. We see an example In Joshua 9

‘But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers. Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.” Joshua 9:18-20

He did not ask them to make the promise but he took their promise as a covenant that should not be broken.

Beloved, when you make a promise it becomes law as far as God is concerned because the only person that can overturn it is God. You are the child of a king. This is not a democratic kingdom because there is no such thing, so whatever an heir to the king says stands.

Don’t take your promises lightly, they carry power and grace. And if you break them, you project your king in a bad light. Let’s do better.

To Do

Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance the promises you’ve made to Him, yourself, and people, and ask Him for the grace to keep them. Don’t forget to apologize to people you disappointed. I’m starting mine with the first person on my list.

Warning: this action will make you uncomfortable.

Shalom