Commit For Life

I've been meaning to write this entry for about a week, but I am finally able to pause and assess, getting these thoughts down before they are forgotten.  On Wednesday last week I had one of those moments where I knew God was wanting to teach me something.  I had been listening to podcasts all week, but that day I remembered my friend Chrissie told me about a talk from The Porch at Watermark on Commitment.  We had a brief conversation about it, and I filed it away to listen to at a later date.  Wednesday at work was the perfect time, as I worked on a project that allowed me to multi-task.  As the podcast began, I knew I had stumbled upon exactly what I needed to hear.  It was a great talk but also incredibly humbling.  I know I can be so flakey when it comes to commitment.  I know our generation is plagued by lack of commitment.  I've seen it in my friends, and I've experienced it far too many times in dating.  I was once notorious for always saying "We'll see" when asked if I'd be at the regular dance hall each week, not wanting to commit out of fear.  It's a small thing, but I still remember a guy friend pointing it out to me one day in jest.  I haven't forgotten because I remember thinking to myself, "That's not who I want to be."

The podcast is here if you want to check it out:  http://www.watermark.org/media/why-commit/2241/

However, what I wanted to use this post for was more to talk about how much I really feel I need to learn this and God is showing me blatantly I need to be obedient.  After listening to the talk, I walked outside and bumped into my friend Melissa.  Our company was doing a blood drive, and she had a free t-shirt and cookies in her hand.  I asked her if I could see the t-shirt because it looked comfy and cute, and I was surprised to see in big white letters it simply read COMMIT.  "Ok", I thought, "But commit to what...?"

A year or so ago, I was reflecting in a previous entry and glanced at the box in my apartment as I got ready to move.  I still remember feeling edified when I read "DARE TO COMMIT" written along the side.

Why is it that it's so hard to commit?  I think fear is a big thing, but also, it's waiting for something better.  It's the uncertainty, the insecurity, knowing something is a good thing but still wondering if it's God's best thing.  In the podcast it was pointed out that there are many good decisions and often, almost never, a best decision.  We are overwhelmed by so many choices and access to information (facebook, reviews, google searches), that we get stuck in the process.  I know I do.  I hope that for my next big decision, and those of my friends, I can make a good choice out of many sources of wisdom.  It was the best choice because it's the one I chose, and I will follow through.  I won't back down.

Final thoughts:
Because He is faithful, we should be faithful.
Delayed obedience is disobedience.
Beautiful things come through commitments.
Wise is a man who keeps his oath, even when it hurts. Psalm 15:4b

Titus 1:2 A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, 

which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.

The difference between covenant and commitment is a commitment can be broken, but only in wisdom.

A covenant is between you, God, and the other person.  It's forever.