Raphael Garard Maria

The greatness of a nation, group or religion depends on the quality of leadership materials at the helm of its affairs. Do not make promise to God in your heart that you are not sure of fulfilling. In business and in prayer, do not make a covenant that may be difficult for you to keep. Especially you do business, novena prayer, church marriage, ordination, e.t.c, do not write petition with rash pr

omise. Remember Jephthah in the Book of Judges 11: 29-39, who, in his eagerness to conquer the Ammo rites made a rash promise, to offer as a burnt offering anything that first came out to welcome him for victory over the enemy. As it turned out, his only child and daughter was the first to come out of the house. He had no option than to fulfill his word. It is not the magnitude or high value of a promise that God wants, even though we must offer the Lord the best, but it has to be something within our ability. In other words, it must be good and reasonable, like Abel's offering, the best from the work of our hands. Likewise, keep your word or promise to loved ones. Do not casually make a promise. Faithfulness is holistic, that is, all round ,to God and to man. Do not start a prayer or novena and then suddenly break off in order to attend to the demands of the world or to self. Finally, be steadfast in your daily, weekly and monthly devotions. Don't be lukewarm or casual about them. This calls for attainable spiritual goals and the avoidance of too many commitments.