At eighteen years old, I couldn’t wait to move out of my parents’ house. Tired of rules and boundaries, I was certain that a life of freedom and unbridled joy awaited me outside those four walls. Upon my arrival as a freshman at the University of Georgia nearly twenty years ago, I was naive. I mistakenly believed that the opportunity to make my own rules would afford me great joy. Instead, I found myself floundering as I struggled to make friends, dealt with loneliness, and questioned what it took to be a “real adult.”
In Nehemiah 9, the Israelites took the time to reflect on their relationship with God. They fasted and confessed their sins, acknowledging the mistakes they made and the faithfulness of the God who chose to stay with them through grace upon grace upon grace. Much like a teenager desperate to spread her wings, the Israelites’ journey was one of desiring independence yet longing for security and safety. As the Israelites recognized the futility of their efforts to detach themselves from God, they also saw His kindness that had touched each generation.
My mom loves to say, “Hindsight is 20/20,” meaning that when we look back on our lives with the gift of perspective, we have a much clearer picture of reality than when we are in the midst of it. The Israelites are known for their forgetfulness and penchant for rebellion. As we sit here reading their story several thousand years later, it can be tempting to judge their fickleness or faithlessness. But when we reflect on our experiences with honesty, we each have seasons or situations in which we ignored God’s best for our lives because we thought we knew better. How many times have you said “No, thank you” to God’s plans for our lives because we didn’t want to surrender?
Nehemiah 10 tells us a story of a repentant people. A people tired of trying so hard with nothing to show for it. A people desperate for God’s blessing. A people longing to see His face and walk with Him. In Zechariah 10:12, the Lord says, “I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they will march in his name.” When we turn from our striving and learn to surrender to His plans, the Lord strengthens us. We don’t have to try to figure everything out on our own, hoping God will be proud of us for solving our problems. No, instead we can trust that the God of the universe knows our needs and the desires of our hearts and that He is working all things together for our good. When we look back at our lives and see the times when we turned away from Him, we can thank Him for His protection and live our lives from the posture of a grateful heart, ready for whatever He has in store for us.
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69 thoughts on "Israel’s Vow"
I love the idea of shifting from striving to surrender. Thankful for God’s grace and forgiveness.
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Thank you all for your insight. This is helping me in my time of need.
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When we turn from our striving and learn to surrender to God’s plans, the Lord strengthens us.
Thank you Father God for your grace upon grace upon grace. Today is hard. Society is hard and there is so much weight. It feels so good that I know I can surrender that weight to hog Lord. That we are not alone even when we have tried to exert our independence. Thank you Lord for your patience and your mercy. The last few weeks I have felt so hopeless and lost and have prayed to hear from you. You placed on my heart to participate in the Nehemiah plan and it couldn’t have been more perfect ……relatable……a reminder that You are the author of our next chapter and that we need You always. Thank you for your faith in us and being the light we need.
I heard Holy Water by We the Kingdom today. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve heard it on the radio and thought the bridge and chorus goes well with our topic of forgiveness and grace. Love this song:
[Bridge]
I don’t wanna abuse Your grace
God, I need it every day
It’s the only thing that ever really
Makes me wanna change
[Chorus]
Your forgiveness
Is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips
Like the sound of a symphony to my ears
It’s like holy water
Your forgiveness
Oh, is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips
Like the sound of a symphony to my ears
Oh, it’s like holy water on my skin
Yeah, it’s like holy water on my skin
Oh, it’s like holy water
Good song!
“I don’t wanna abuse Your grace
God, I need it every day
It’s the only thing …” – POWERFUL.
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What an awesome reminder that following God is whole-life surrender, not just words on our lips. True faith shows up in our decisions, our calendars, our budgets, and our homes.
For us today, we may not sign a scroll or bring offerings of grain and wood, but the principle remains: God calls us to commit every part of our lives to Him. Our vow is lived out when we honor Him with our time, protect our families from ungodly influence, give generously, and make His presence central in our homes and churches.
Thanks @Ashley M for convicting me today!
What I re-read the title today and my mind started to drift. Then I looked again “Israel’s Vow”, I asked myself, what are my vows to God? I encourage you to ask yourselves the same question. What are our vows to God, here and now? A vow of Obedience and faithfulness, a Vow of Praise and Worship, a Vow of service and dedication, a vow of Generous Giving, a Vow to be separated from sin, to keep ourselves pure as He is pure. Then I think of the wedding vows. What do married couples vow to each other on their wedding day in front of witnesses? I love this part so much. A vow to love and cherish, till death do us part, to remain faithful for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. God is a jealous God yall. I hope you have heard and known about this attribute of Him. The Bible also says this, “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow” (Ecclesiastes 5:4). “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). God is both severe and kind. Thank you ladies for your prayers over Kaydin’s accident (he is in a sad situation, his dad in jail, mom out of the picture, he only has a disabled grandma and a sister. The surgeries are for his jaws and his heart, the car that picked him up after school got T-boned where he sat, the driver was okay, but not him. Kaydin’s jaws had to be reconstructed, sigh). May God have great mercies on this orphan boy. Thank you for your prayers and compassion. Wishing you a great week ahead. Be blessed dear sisters.
Whoooo Mercy, preach on, that is SO good! I love that we should know, a vow matters! To our spouse, and to our GOD more importantly!! It reminds me of the verse of better to be hot or cold, that luke-warm is no good. We can’t hear the word, vow our hearts to God, and then be disobedient on purpose. We can, and we will, but we should be convicted right away and want to repent, and gain forgiveness!
Like others have said I was anxious to get out, even though my home life was great with freedom, just to go and live on my own. I knew that I could always come home Same with my relationship with Jesus, I was glad to have him when I needed him. I knew he was my Savior! BUT–I didn’t need him to direct my life! That was disastrous!! Truly! So many regrets and harm to others. Harm to myself! I vow again today, to follow my God, with all my heart, soul, and mind! I want to please him, and not be a fool! :)
Mercy! Thank you so much for this! Really making me think!
Also, will pray for Kaydin.
Have a lovely week.
oh yes, that is heartbreaking for this little boy. Praying for Kaydin.
Great word again, Mercy; prayers for Kaydin! ❤
I just finished this and the podcast. I am constantly in awe of what I hear and understand- ah-ha moments or “God winks” as a friend says. I see where I have been in autopilot for such a long season and am beginning to wake up! Amen!
Right? Isn’t it amazing when you have eyes to see and ears to hear?!!
Jessica said, “…when we reflect on our experiences with honesty, we each have seasons or situations in which we ignored God’s best for our lives because we thought we knew better. How many times have you said “No, thank you” to God’s plans for our lives because we didn’t want to surrender?”
That is a HUGE ponder with a likely humbling result. Interesting that we deny humbling ourselves before God only to discover that we brought ourselves to humiliation.
I hope that makes sense. Very stressful weekend and my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders yet!
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Also, I wonder if they recognized God’s grace in accepting their covenant? I haven’t read ahead and it’s been a while since my previous study if Nehemiah.
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SALLY B- our SS is in Numbers, too! ❤
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SEARCHING- Thanks for sharing the BG verse. It reminds me of the nasty cockroach that is drawn out in the dark, but scurries away quickly when light appears.
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Love, hugs, and prayers, sisters! ❤ Gotta run- will try to reply to comments later. ❤
Yes, that is SO good CeeGee! I really love today’s devotion as a lesson for a Wed at jail! It would be of great value I believe to them as well. We seem to want Him when we need Him, but then quickly forget Him when out of the hotspot, pit, fire, or other side of the sea. (like all before us!)
Wow, this is so timely. I have been struggling with praying to be the wife and mother, my family needs, and I feel like I keep making investments and the return is just never what I expected. It’s so discouraging!
I think God knew I needed to be reminded to surrender today, though, and trust that he knows everything, including our needs and the desires of our hearts.
Lord, I just pray that my cries out to you do not go unheard. I feel so alone sometimes in my desperation to have everything seem right, and I am so sorry I let that stray my eyes from you and your good and perfect will. I know you work all things together for the good of those who love you. I am asking for the strength to continue forward. Strength to trust even when I can’t see a way. I am surrendering daily and know that I can fall short.
Amen Amanda. Prayers with you. The return does come, keep being faithful in the little and unknown.
Reading Israel’s vow – I have been dealing with a conflict of what I believe is right and what my husband believes is right and I decided a few weeks ago to let go of my ideals in this one particular issue and understand that he is an adult, capable of making his own decisions. While his choices contradict my own views, I can see that God has a plan for me and that I should ONLY trust in that. This is part of the plan.
Amen. I believe that is good wisdom.
We really can’t judge the Israelites for turning away and back again more than once. If we are honest we have done the same thing. I know I have. But how thankful we can be knowing that we have a God that is forgiving. That loves us so much He is hoping and waiting for us to return to Him.
Lord, I am ready for whatever you have in store for me. I fully surrender to you and your will for my life ❤️
Amen, Jessica Mathisen! “ The Israelites are known for their forgetfulness and penchant for rebellion. As we sit here reading their story several thousand years later, it can be tempting to judge their fickleness or faithlessness. But when we reflect on our experiences with honesty, we each have seasons or situations in which we ignored God’s best for our lives because we thought we knew better. How many times have you said “No, thank you” to God’s plans for our lives because we didn’t want to surrender?”
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Ugh. Same.
Yep, too many to count. It sometimes feels so hard to “hear” from God, and to know what the direction is. BUT, we have the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT now though. We know the law and the BOOK, but otherwise, we have the guidance of God in us!
Honest reflection can be and often is hard. I’m thankful for the reminder of how important it is.
Yes, amen!!
So,they made an oath to obey and follow God’s laws,and to basically commit to God.
Will you pray with me that on the day of I would stop and truly feel the emotions and connection to God that marriage is. I want to honor him with my day and not be so distracted with all of the details. I also want to depend on him every moment this week because I know he’s the only one that can truly give me peace.
Yes, amen!
Congrats! Details for sure have to be dealt with, but I will pray that God shifts the focus of your heart from the wedding to the marriage ❤️ (and no matter how all those details play out, at the end of the day you will still be married, so relax your grip wherever possible ;) ❤️❤️❤️
Congratulations Darby! I am praying for you and your future husband.
Congratulations Darby! Praying for an overwhelming sense of God’s presence as you walk into the marriage covenant! ❤️
Hey, she is, I’m getting married this weekend and wow, am I overwhelmed with tasks, stress and decisions,
This too; will pass. Just enjoy your day
Congratulations Darby!! How wonderful!! It’s funny the planning we do, and then the day after it’s all over with plenty of food memories and moments!! But then the real work begins! Lol. But with the Lord in the center it will be way easier then trying to stay on the same page yourselves! I used to joke with my younger clients to spend the money for a wedding on yearly marriage counseling instead! Prayers for calmness, ease, and peace to enjoy the week in anticipation not anxiety!! Are you on our SRT SHE’S Facebook page? We would love to see pictures of the beautiful day next week!!
Aw thank you this is so encouraging!! I need to find the group on fb! What’s it called?
Thank you Father that you are all knowing the way for us even though we may not see, or choose not to see the light of who you are. Thank you for your grace upon grace that is greater than all our sin and your care that keeps us within. Thank you that you keep your promises and offer forgiveness and a life of abundant hope. Help me to push through the fog of that can blur the way of Truth, righteousness, holiness, drown out the noise of a distracted heart and deaf ear and be tuned to you to walk in faith and obedience with peace, courage and joy and live my life for you. Amen
Is anyone else reading the Bible Recap and appreciating the timing of the plans readings alongside Nehemiah right now? Its been so helpful :)
Blessings on your day sisters ❤️
Yes! I have found it helpful, as well!
Boy can I relate to Jessica’s story of the tiredness of rules and boundaries, and how I moved out at age 18, to do things my way!…but that’s a story for another time!
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“we can trust that the God of the universe knows our needs and the desires of our hearts and that He is working all things together for our good.”
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This is something that I have to be reminded of daily!
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First – He is God of the universe!!! He is the creator and sustain-er of it, surely He knows my needs better than I do.
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Also, He knows the desires of my heart – how? Because He placed them there.
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And – He is working all things together for my good and His glory.
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How is it that so often – like the Israelites, I think I know better than God? There have been many times I’ve attempted to do things “my way”, but as you might have guessed, they did not work out. So this is my prayer for today and every day…
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Father God, help me to obey carefully all of your commands. Let me assume responsibility for what you have called me to do. Do not let me neglect you, do not let me revert to my old ways but to obey from my heart the pattern of teaching that has claimed my allegiance. Let me each day live remembering that I have been set free from my sin by the precious blood of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
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@Kelly Neo – praying for your young mama “J”, that she will join you at church very soon.
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Have a blessed day my dear She’s! ❤️
Yes, I think he summed it up perfectly for me as well Sharon!
Oh how I wanted to have my own apartment and do as I wanted to do! Then you quickly remember that home was pretty good considering! My home especially, there were boundaries, but when I stayed within them things were great.
My niece I remember, she just could not wait to move out at 18 and she did, but now she’s back at home again just a few years later! Realizing how good she has it at home. Luckily most of us in our twenties are welcome back home when we struggle, even when we’re older! My brother was able to move back home after his divorce in his thirties until he got on his feet! Grace upon Grace upon Grace is what home is.
Home should be where the heart is, but home with God, you need a heart for Him! And know that his plans are Good!!
The Goodness of God is a good song today.
Grace upon Grace upon Grace…God is good and faithful to give up opportunities to return to Him.
I love this. This verse in John 1 always jumps out to me.
“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 Praying for those in my life who need to return to Jesus that they will feel and understand this “grace upon grace.”
Lord help me to hear you clearly and walk in obedience
God, let us surrender to your plans. I feel like my focus hasn’t been on you lately, and instead has been on the chaos of this world, and my own unfortunate circumstances. Costly things keep going wrong, and my husband’s job is looking uncertain. One of my friends is especially struggling too with a DUI. She is a recently single mom who escaped an abusive marriage, and her lack of judgment may yield some of extreme consequences. Pray that we stay focused on God, and that we find comfort and clarity during this messy time.
Kim, praying for you today – that God will give you peace as you fix your eyes on Him instead of the “storms” that surround you. Praying also for your friend. May she find peace, strength, and help through Jesus.
That’s a good song..Fix my eyes, not sure who sings it, but the course always goes through my mind hearing those words! ♥️
God I am grateful for Your love and kindness. I trust You with all the desires of my heart. ♥️
Long time rebel here who fled the provisions and comforts of home at 18, looking for trouble at every turn and trouble being sure to find me when I wasn’t looking. The rear view perspective KELLY (NEO) spoke of … not just 20/20 but more like 20/15 or sharper, provides astounding clarity of my foolishness. Tears as I think of “close calls” that could have only been the Lord’s grace and protection. I am so thankful for the forgiveness of my repentant heart, though saddened for the years it took me to see His Light.
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BG verse today John 3:20-21 where Jesus says:
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
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There is such strong truth in Romans 6:16 and 6:19b –
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Romans 6:19b
For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
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What/who controls us? Who do we answer to, and who are they answering to?
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If only the Israelites had kept the covenant… thankful God will always keep His covenant with us, sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
❤ yku found your way, sister! No turning back. ❤
Lord I need Your love, forgiveness, guidance. In Jesus name, Amen
Amen!❤️
Amen❤️
So thankful for the rear-view perspective of God’s faithfulness and provision. As I’m looking forward may my faith increase to trust Him for all I need.
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Thanks for your prayers for Mama J yesterday. She did not make it to church (her dad need her car), but I’m hopeful she will come soon.
Rear view perspective…an eye opener in the midst of any doubt.
Praying for Mama J.
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Praying she makes it to church soon!
Praying for Mama J
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Amen❤️
Lord I need you….every hour of every day.
Happy Monday! Praying this morning for God to show/lead me where I need to make concrete commitments just like they did in Nehemiah 10.
Amen✝️