A Pretentious Promise

By Rosemary Flaaten –

As I prepared for the biggest performance of my career, I prayed that not only would God keep me from making a fool out of myself, but that He would help me do a super job. I remember tagging on the end of that plea a well meaning promise to be more diligent about sharing my faith with my coworkers if He would grant me just this one small favor.

Thankfully, the performance was spectacular. God came through and answered my request. But, as for my part of the deal, I regretfully report that my promise to talk about my faith fizzled before it even started. I procrastinated, produced one excuse after another, and eventually gave way to apathy. My promise was flimsy and selfish, having little to do with gratitude, responsibility or dedication.

Each of us could provide a long list of blessings that come to us from God. Family, jobs, health, friendships, material comforts and freedoms form just the initial items on this list. God has given so abundantly for each of us. His mercies are new every morning and He makes available everything we need to have overflowing lives.

So why is our tendency to take these blessings for granted, offering half-hearted excuses for our ingratitude and selfishness?

Jeremiah gives us a glimpse into this reality when he tells that despite all that God had done for Israel, she did not return to Him with her whole heart. Israel’s devotion was pretentious; a facade.

God doesn’t desire to be part of our life; He wants to be our life. He has no interest in a lukewarm, relationship with us that is more show than reality. He isn’t satisfied to be relegated to Sundays, mid-week Bible studies and early morning devotions. He desires for us to recognize Him as our travelling partner, involved in everything we do in every moment of the day.

Undivided devotion and gratitude usher in a openness to the Spirit of God and creates a space in our lives that would otherwise remained shut off from Him. A wholehearted commitment will vanquish any facade.

PRAYER: Search me O God and illuminate for me where pretence has superseded my devotion.

“In spite of all this (she) did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretence” (Jeremiah 3:10 NIV).

Today’s Devotional is by Rosemary Flaaten. Her successful book, A Woman and Her Relationships, and its accompanying DVD small group resource helps women bridge the gap between their spiritual lives and everyday interactions. Her newest book A Woman and Her Workplace delves into 9-5 relationships. A dynamic speaker—Rosemary challenges her audiences to view their workplaces as opportunities to live out Christ’s love. Rosemary lives with her husband and three children in Calgary, Canada.