Main Verses: 2 Kings 23, Job 31

Good morning!

            As hard as it is to believe, 2025 is ending. On New Year’s Eve it is customary for people to make resolutions such as going to the gym, staying in touch with the family, go to church, and/or lose a few pounds; which, unfortunately, the resolutions are abandoned before the second week in January, gym memberships are cancelled, exercise equipment become places to hang laundry, and scales are put away. In the same way people, like you and I, resolve to be obedient to the Lord after attending an altar call, revival, and/or retreat but, despite scriptural warnings, we fail to honor our vows (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). I passionately believe the reason we fail to honor our vows is not because we did not go to the right church, the distance to the gym, and/or compulsive behavior; the problem has more to do with group expectations. In the Old Testament the Israelite elders, judges, and officers vowed to serve the Lord of their ancestors and signed their names attesting to the choice; however, when the new leaders came to power, those vows were discarded as an example, Manasseh Josiah’s son (verse 31-33).

            Six months ago, the Lord impressed upon my heart to commit to a covenant with myself and to the Lord daily as part of my morning prayers (Ephesians 6:10-20). Remember this, the Lord does not grant us six months nor a year, He grants today (Psalms 118:24, Proverbs 27:1, Hebrews 4:6-7). My encouragement for you today is, recommit yourself to seeking the Lord and re-establish a covenant relationship with the Lord one day at a time (James 4:6-10, One Day at a Time). May the Lord bless and keep you in 2026 (Numbers 6:22-27).

I.H.S.

MK