Permissible Promises Made to God
Like rain already falling, God’s love flows first—our response is to step into it.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace – Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Not all promises to God are misplaced. While Scripture warns us about the danger of making self-reliant vows—especially those tied to obedience and performance—David shows us a better kind of promise: one rooted in dependence upon God's own faithfulness. In Psalm 18, David says, “I will love You, O LORD” and “I will call upon the LORD.”These aren’t declarations of personal strength but expressions of trust in the God who first loved him, who had faithfully delivered him again and again.
David’s commitment to love wasn’t self-generated; it was a response to God’s prior work in his life. He calls the Lord his strength, recognizing that the ability to love God wholeheartedly comes not from effort but from divine empowerment. God had already promised to circumcise the hearts of His people so they could love Him fully—and David believed this promise.
Likewise, David’s promise to call upon the Lord wasn’t a new resolution—it was a rhythm formed by past experiences. He had learned through repeated deliverance that God was indeed his fortress, his shield, his stronghold. His promises flowed not from self-confidence but from settled trust in the character and power of God.
This is the kind of promise God delights in—not vows rooted in willpower, but in worship.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am not asking you to promise Me more than I have already placed within you. The love you offer Me is the love I first poured into you. The strength you trust in is Mine, and I have given it freely. Like David, you are invited not to strive for affection or loyalty, but to rest in the reality that I have made your heart Mine.
When you say, “I will love You,” you are echoing My own desire birthed within you. I am the One who has circumcised your heart, removing the calluses of self-reliance and replacing them with softness toward Me. Every stirring of affection for Me is proof that I have already moved toward you. This promise is not a burden; it is the overflow of fellowship.
When you say, “I will call upon the Lord,” you are remembering what I have shown you again and again: I rescue, I surround, I shield. I do not grow weary. You are not abandoned to fend off enemies or burdens alone. I am your deliverer, and I have never failed you. Even your cry for help is evidence of My presence.
You are free to promise from this posture—where confidence is not in yourself, but in Me. In the moments you feel the weight of your own insufficiency, remember: I am your strength, your fortress, your shield, and your song.
Scriptures referenced: Psalm 18:1–3; Matthew 22:37; 1 John 4:19; Deuteronomy 30:6
🧺 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like standing under a shower that’s already been turned on—water flowing freely, refreshing you without effort. You didn’t create it, but you can step into it. That’s how it is with God’s love: already flowing, already faithful. Your promises, then, aren’t the source of the stream—they’re simply a response to the rain.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I rejoice that I am not required to drum up promises You never asked for. Thank You that I can respond to Your love with love, not because I’m strong, but because You have made my heart alive to You. I trust You to keep drawing me into deeper dependence—where my promises are less about what I’ll do and more about who You are. You are my fortress, my strength, my song—and I rest in the security of all You are.