Be careful what you say…

Words are powerful. As scripture says “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NIV. The direction I want to go with this topic is to talk about “inner vows” that we make even when we don’t know we are making them.

The Lord recently brought some inner vows to my attention that I had to deal with. I made these inner vows when I didn’t know anything about inner vows. I want to talk about this so that you can recognize the inner vows you may have made, renounce them, and not let them dictate your life any longer.

Definition of vow (noun):

1. a solemn promise or assertion; specifically: one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition

Inner vow: is a promise we set up in our minds and hearts as a defensive mechanism to keep us from getting hurt. These inner vows usually come from previous hurt, rejection, or unmet expectations.

Let’s use me as an example. Here goes another transparent moment from me. After my parents separated, I saw all the struggles my mother had to go through from being hurt by my father; a man. Since then growing up, I used to say, “I’ll have my own stuff so that I don’t have to struggle if a man decided to leave.” I embedded that into my heart and mind. I worked while I was in school, ended up having a full-time job and going to independent studies, even had my own apartment at the age of 17.

I have always been responsible, had great work ethic, and always had a place to stay at. In my past relationships, if things went wrong, it was the man to leave, and I stayed with everything. I had set these inner vows, and I was walking them out. I didn’t want to get hurt, so I tried to set up boundaries not knowing that they would eventually harm me down the road.

I say harm because by making these inner vows, it has been hard for me to accept help from others. I had set up this mentality as I don’t need anyone; I can do it on my own. When I had healthy relationships, my inner vows didn’t allow me to accept the help from them, because of my past and it set a rift between us. This is something that I have to work on daily. It’s still a struggle to accept help from others.

Another inner vow I made was when I found out how old my mother was when she got married and decided to have children. She got married at 27 and had my brother at 28. I always told my mom “I’m not waiting that long to get married or have children.” Look at me now, I’m 33 and still don’t have a husband or any children. If I would’ve known I was making inner vows at such a young age and it would possibly stop me from getting married or having children; I would’ve started stating the opposite, so I would be married and have children by now!

Some of your inner vows may start with “I will never do this/that because…” or “I will wait until…” These inner vows are made subconsciously sometimes, and we don’t even understand how detrimental it is to our future until we are faced to deal with them.

I wanted to write this post for those of you who don’t understand the power of inner vows or may not even know what inner vows are. These inner vows can hinder your future and if you let it possibly destroy your destiny or calling.

While reading this, some may be getting thoughts of things they have said in the past and others may have to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to them, inner vows they may have made that could be hindering your future. Either way, pray and ask the Lord for his truth to be revealed so that you can deal with it and move on to a healthier happier future.

Matthew 5:33-37 (NASB)
“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 (NIV)
“It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”

We must renounce these inner vows so that it can break the strongholds on our life and allow us to live in the freedom God has called us to live in.

Here’s a prayer I’m providing for you to renounce your inner vows:

Father God I come to you humbling myself and asking you to break everything that is not of you off of me and covering me with the blood of the lamb. I confess and renounce any inner vows that I have made consciously and subconsciously. I confess and renounce every time I said _________. In the power of your name, I break any power or bondage that this vow comes with or has tried to hinder my life with and anything attached to it that might try and take me off course. I cover my life, my mind, my heart, and my spirit by the blood of Jesus. I decree and declare new days of freedom, new days of self-worth, and new days of walking in your purpose. I decree and declare that this inner vow will never have the right to take over my life again. I decree and declare walking in total freedom to be who you have called me to be. Amen!

Today is your day to walk in total freedom. You may have to say this prayer a few times and renounce several things, but the reward of your freedom will be totally worth it!