A promise to God. When it is valid?

[Kostilaks]

Someone has an ocd fear of God. One day, he is relaxed and calm and wants to stop a bad habit. He gets an intrusive thought that suggests him to make a real promise to God that would force him to stop that bad habit. He thinks about it some seconds, and for some reason, he thinks its a good idea and that it worths the risk. He prays to God and makes the promise. It is as if he is threating himself with a broken promise to God, in order to force himself to stop that bad habit. Even though, he knew what he was doing, does it still count as ocd or as a normal promise? Do not forget his has ocd fear of God but for some reason that he can't explain, he foolishly, made a promise for something stupid. Is the promise valid or not? Can he blame his illness? Is the promise similar to the vow that a father made as it was written in the bible?

 

[Dave L]

Someone has an ocd fear of God. One day, he is relaxed and calm and wants to stop a bad habit. He gets an intrusive thought that suggests him to make a real promise to God that would force him to stop that bad habit. He thinks about it some seconds, and for some reason, he thinks its a good idea and that it worths the risk. He prays to God and makes the promise. It is as if he is threating himself with a broken promise to God, in order to force himself to stop that bad habit. Even though, he knew what he was doing, does it still count as ocd or as a normal promise? Do not forget his has ocd fear of God but for some reason that he can't explain, he foolishly, made a promise for something stupid. Is the promise valid or not? Can he blame his illness? Is the promise similar to the vow that a father made as it was written in the bible?

You cannot make a promise to God. What if your plan is not his will? How can you keep it if it isn't his will?

 

[pdudgeon]

No, intrusive, bargaining thoughts are NOT from God.

God does not bargain with us. He doesn't have to!
Nor should we think to bargain with God, for it is impossible to offer anything to Him that He does not already own.

 

[Tolworth John]

He gets an intrusive thought that suggests him to make a real promise to God that would force him to stop that bad habit

Intrusive thoughts are not real.
All you need do do is acknowledge them and carry on.

Any promise made because of the relentless pressure of intrusive thoughts are not valid as they are made under duress.

 

[Rugged Cross]

In all honesty you can't make a deal with in that way. Many have done it, even me "God if You .... I wll" etc. What we often forget is that God already knows what you need, so we don't need to bargain, and He knows well in advance if we are going to keep the bargain. I often think that it's best just to ask in prayer, as Jesus instructed, and wait for the answer, He will answer, maybe not as we want but He will answer.