Making God a promise then breaking it?

childofGod31

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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?



We all sin often while we are on earth. It's better to not make promises (to God or people if you are not 100% sure that you can keep the promise). But forgiveness is always there, especially at God's throne of grace. He is the one who teaches us to forgive. He WANTS us to forgive. Surely, the teacher of forgiveness would be willing to forgive himself....and much more than bad students such as we are...

You are forgiven. The Bible did say that Jesus made us perfect in "standing", although not in practice yet. We can only be perfect in heaven. And God, since He is wisest than all, knows that we can't be perfect here. Of course He forgives.

It's like watching your child learn to walk. Of course you expect them to fall. Our children make promises to us all the time and break them all the time and we forgive them. We know that they don't mean to break them, but they simply couldn't help be who they are and do what they did.
 
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contango

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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?

Look at what Peter promised...

Mat 26:32-35 NKJV But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." (33) Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." (34) Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (35) Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.

... and what he delivered ...

Mat 26:69-74 NKJV Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." (70) But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." (71) And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." (72) But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" (73) And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." (74) Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.

Peter was restored after this, and we too can be restored when we fail.
 
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singpeace

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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?

Dear Snowing,

I don't know how old you are or if you have kids, but children can put a lot of things into perspective.

My sons are 22 and 19. When they were 10 and 7, they would make promises to me that I already knew they could not keep. They believed they could keep the promises, and were sincere in heart about them.

This touched me deeply, but I discouraged them from making promises to anyone because none of us knows when circumstances will throw us a curve and before we realize we have broken a vow to God, it is already a broken vow.

God knew when you promised that it would not be something you could/would follow through. However, He also knew / knows your heart and whether you meant good and not evil. What He judges in us is not the (in)ability to keep a promise, but the motives and intentions of our hearts.
 
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pilgrimgal

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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?

Hi Snowing, God isn't let down the way friends may be when you don't keep faith with a promise. He sees through our faults right to our hearts and needs and forgives us. The thing to do is to commit each day to the Lord and trust Him to direct and give grace needed. That is better than making promises we may not be able to keep.

It has helped me to read the Life of King David in II Samuel..Here was someone (a chosen leader) after God's own heart..who failed many times to live up to what was expected of Him yet as he realized his mistakes and/or sins and repented of them..God forgave Him.
 
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flores

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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?
yes! God is a forgiving God.Just repent and ask Him forgiveness and you are forgiven.
 
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flores

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God is a forgiving God.All we have to do is repent from the heart and ask for forgiveness.and He will forgive.you will sense the peace of god settle over your being,and that assurance that you are forgiven.He loves us so much that he loves for us to ask Him ,for anything according to his will.
 
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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?

Sure you can be forgiven.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Jesus will forgive us not just seven times but 70 times 7, meaning that He will forgive us as many times as we ask for it. However, that doesn't mean that we should do whatever we want and then just ask for forgiveness.

Romans 6:1-2

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?


I think promises at least for me are something that I feel like I have to do on my own. When it comes sin we can't be free on our own, we need God's help. So making a promise might be ok, but don't make a promise like "God I promise I won't do this"...make it a promise like "God I will trust in you for the strength overcome this".
 
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Niffer

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First off - High five for the deathnote avvie of L...awesome. :D

Secondly,
We're all human.
We make promises and break them, only one man ever lived perfectly.
Don't misunderstand and think then, that you can make promises left and right, break em' and shrug thinking "well - I'm human."
Being Christian, we are told to strive to be like Christ, who was perfect.
That is the "fighting the good fight" and "running the race" if you will.

You will be forgiven, but forgivness only comes with true repentance, bro.
Don't make a promise you know you can't or won't keep.
Instead, ask for strength to not do _______ again.

God will give you that strength.

Keep fighting bro!

Peace,
- Niff
 
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Snowing 2010

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Sorry it took long to reply ( school started). Thanks for the advice! I'm still getting use to God being very merciful to us. And I also have to stop beating myself up from past events in my life that were sinful. Note to self: less promises and more "Just do it". Frankly, this is going to be one heck of an interesting life down the road! Thanks for the help!
 
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pilgrimgal

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Sorry it took long to reply ( school started). Thanks for the advice! I'm still getting use to God being very merciful to us. And I also have to stop beating myself up from past events in my life that were sinful. Note to self: less promises and more "Just do it". Frankly, this is going to be one heck of an interesting life down the road! Thanks for the help!

Yes, the road has its hills and valleys and twists and turns; but it is a great adventure. :clap:

You are doing just fine and may this be a great year at school. :thumbsup:

peace and blessings..:holy:
 
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Peripatetic

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My sons are 22 and 19. When they were 10 and 7, they would make promises to me that I already knew they could not keep. They believed they could keep the promises, and were sincere in heart about them.

This touched me deeply, but I discouraged them from making promises to anyone because none of us knows when circumstances will throw us a curve and before we realize we have broken a vow to God, it is already a broken vow.

God knew when you promised that it would not be something you could/would follow through. However, He also knew / knows your heart and whether you meant good and not evil. What He judges in us is not the (in)ability to keep a promise, but the motives and intentions of our hearts.

Very well said... I couldn't agree more. Be careful about vows to God though. Jesus warned about them here:

Matthew 5:33-37
33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Now that you know that vows can be a trap and a deception, you have turned a very important corner. If they come into your mind, cast them out and don't feel guilty if you can't keep the ones you've made in the past.
 
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heymikey80

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Sorry it took long to reply ( school started). Thanks for the advice! I'm still getting use to God being very merciful to us. And I also have to stop beating myself up from past events in my life that were sinful. Note to self: less promises and more "Just do it". Frankly, this is going to be one heck of an interesting life down the road! Thanks for the help!
Glad the encouragements before me struck home.

One of my mentors pointed out, if you hitch your life to the God of the Universe, you're hitched to something that can raise the dead, make things happen you never thought possible. You won't be able to fathom how they're happening -- you're just tagging along with the Spirit of God. But they happen.

Faith, reliance -- they're not just for conversion, they're for life.
 
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Hiroyuki

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I think this has happened in the past before. I made a promise to God that I wouldn't do a certain something, then doing it. Thus breaking the promise I had made to God. What will happen now? Can I still be forgiven?

It sounds like you are following the devil here in doubt about salvation.

You should be sticking to the words of Jesus, believing Him, and keeping to His teachings.

All of this other stuff is just a diversion.

The Devil is telling you that someway, somehow, you are not right to be confident before the Lord.


This is because their nature is to lead people into sin.



Promise, no promise, wearing an ugly shirt, getting caught going to the bathroom accidentally, whatever. Slip and fall on a wet day.


Which is more meaningful to salvation or has any bearing on it whatsoever?

None.
 
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JCFantasy23

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It's best not to promise to God. As humans, even if the promises are made with the best of intentions, sometimes we don't live up to the oaths we mutter. But yes, you can be forgiven when this happens.
 
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TJO

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Why make a promise? What's the use of it? Your either going to do something or not.

God doesn't need promises from you, he knows if you are going to do something or not.

Jesus said that if someone asks you if you are going to do something "Give them a simple yes or no, anything else comes from the evil one".
 
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