Keeping Promises … or Blah, Blah, Blah?

Say what you mean and mean what you say. Really. Empty words that fall off your tongue also fall upon deaf ears. Want to know how you can tell the signs? Glazed over eyes. Non-facial demonstration. Broken promises and no follow through lend to this truth – a truth we need to address. We are either the recipient or the instigator. Whichever the agent, I can validate what the receiving party is hearing … Blah, Blah, BLAH.

Studying and reading body language is a gift I have and sometimes don’t want. I can read fear. I can read hurt. I can read defeat. I can read inappropriateness. I can read meanness. I can read manipulation. Mostly, I can read a cry out for help, whether someone is acting out in defense or standing in the shadows of a curtain in a larger-than-life moment. Unseen. Unheard. Unrecognized. Maybe we are the transgressors on this merry-go-round. Did we speak empty words and unfulfilled promises?

After a while the empty words we speak, that fall upon deaf ears, become void of any meaningful integrity. How can we stop this crazy train and bring it to a stop at the cross section of truth and meaning? Scripture gives us insightful wisdom: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’, ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). These are Jesus’ own words. Not to take it out of context, but Jesus is referring to swearing. Meaning false swearing by Heaven and Earth, God’s throne and His footstool. Jesus is forbidding oaths. Your answer is to be either yes or no. No broken promises or oaths.

I am guilty of making promises I do not keep. I have hurt family and friends by making an oath and not keeping it. I either forget what I have said or I put it off to a later date hoping I can make good on my promise. You know what happens? I forget. If I said yes, I should do it right then. That is my assurance my words won’t fall upon deaf ears. Whether being from a prideful heart or a lack of resources, I should not make an oath I cannot keep. Please tell me you can relate?

There is One who speaks oaths and keeps His promises. He also tells us yes and no. We must swallow our pride when He says yes, and humble ourselves when He says no. Or, with all humility, humble ourselves if He says yes and set aside our pride at His definite no. We can count on His follow through. His Word does not fall upon deaf ears. His word is infallible and always speaking in pursuit of those He loves – meaning all of us. We never have to worry whether God will follow through. He is always working things out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Be that man who makes good on his word. Be that woman who doesn’t forget promises she has spoken. With integrity, follow through. Let’s be a people that do good. By our fruits we will be known. Those fruits are evidence of a heart saturated with the knowledge of God’s word and His indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to follow through. You will never hear blah, blah, blah from Him. He speaks loud and clear. I promise.

A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45, NKJV).

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:28-29, NKJV).