It Starts Small

⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6

Late last night I was driving home from work. IN many ways, I do not mind that drive. It is quiet and not a lot of traffic. I was lost in thoughts of praising my Heavenly Father for the day. I thought about my kids. I thought about how much I love them and was thanking the Lord for them. After a few quiet moments the word commitment came to mind. This verse came to mind this morning while in prayer.

What does God’s Word say about commitments?

Commitment means, “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.” I believe it means staying dedicated to a pledge despite circumstances. I believe it is an active response to God. We learn in Revelations there are three types of commitment to God.

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Cold: complete non-commitment to God
Hot: completely committed to God
Luke-warm: partially committed to God

It is interesting to note, God would rather us be completely in or out and never partial. Many of us are crippled because of our half-hearted commitments. This is not just in respect to God, but in our daily lives. Being half-hearted is a loss of joy and peace in our lives. A half hearted Christian can not communicate with God and God will not listen to their prayers. The problem is in their commitment to God.

Commitment means loving God with all we have in our being. It means saying yes when every fiber wants to say no. It means being responsive to God’s Word and truth and acting in obedience no matter what circumstances say. A half hearted person is the kind of person that says, I just go with the flow and decide in the moment what to do. That is basically saying the circumstances of my life will dictate what I do and where I do. A hot heart makes a dedicated decision that in all things, no matter the circumstances, I am going to be obedient and commit myself to the Lord. It is a planned action before circumstances happen. You give your whole self to God.

Whole Self

God’s Word tells us what it means to give our whole selves to Him.

⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:5

Do you love the Lord?

DO you love him more than yourself, your family, your friends, your job, your hobbies, your bank account, your blessings?

DO you make Him priority and number one in your life?

God doesn’t want our money and talents, he just wants our hearts. He created us to love us so we would love Him.

¹³ And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 11:13

³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 27:37

Both the Old and New Testament affirm that our whole being is to love God. Love him with all our heart, all of our soul, and all our mind.

Commitment

The word commitment is not found in God’s Word. We have to remember that the Bible was written in Greek and Hebrew, and then translated into English. HOwever, the idea or concept of commitment has not been left out.

⁵ Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm 31:5

⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46

The words commit and commend here mean to trust entirely. Committing oneself or one’s spirit to God means to entrust oneself entirely to Him.

⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

This usage of commit is similar to trust. It means to put yourself intot he care of someone else. To commit one’s spirit to God is to put one’s own life, one’s own spirit, into God’s care.

³ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

Again, the word commit means to trust entirely. Entrust all your work and activities to God so that He may cause them to bear fruit according to His will.

¹⁹ Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19

The Greek word souls means life. To lose your soul is to lose your life. To commit your life is the basis of our faith. To commit your soul to God is to commit your life to God. By faith we commit our lives and entrust our lives to God.

Our number one priority in life is to entrust, to commit our heart mind and souls to God. To put our trust in Him. We can not function in any capacity, be it relationships, jobs, ministry, etc, without having complete commitment to God.

Failed Commitments

I could list a million excuses and reason for failure in my commitments to others and God, but what it really comes down to is being half hearted, prideful, and selfish. I was half in heaven and half in hell. I straddled the line. I did not want to give up control of my life. I could use the excuse of fear and ignorance, but truth is truth. God’s Word says girl, you are lukewarm. God detests a lukewarm Christian. My pride prevented me from being completely committed to God and committed to my husband and family and the purpose God has in me.

Commitment to me is a choice and an action. It refuses to be swayed by circumstance or feelings. Commitment is rebuking excuses and being all in with God. Commitment is giving all you have back to God and entrusting Him with everything in your life: marriage, relationships, children, jobs, etc. Commitment is seeking His way, His heart, desire and will. Commitment is reporting for duty to God every day and saying here am I Lord, your will be done today, not mine.

Commitment to me is not giving up because you feel one way or another. Emotions are fickle and that is why God does not work in emotions. Commitment is never giving up even when you do not feel like doing what he asks. Commitment means never giving up because you are tired and weary. Commitment is going the way of the Lord despite circumstances and situations. It means a never ending trust of God in my life. No matter what others decide and do, it is putting that commitment first above in obedience and no matter how unclear or lack of understanding we have, God is greater than all things and His sovereignty is more powerful that situation and circumstance.

I made a commitment to my husband and family more than a year ago, that the time spent apart, would be committed to the Lord. I gave and give my life daily to Him to stay committed to Him. To trust His leading, His guidance, His truth, and His healing and transformation of my life. I keep that commitment close to my heart that I gave them and renew it everyday in prayer. I lay down my own desires and allow God’s heart and desire to have control over my life and in all I do.

What commitments today do you need to renew with God? Are you wholeheartedly committed to Him? Are there commitments you have slacked on in your life?

³⁷ But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matthew 5:37