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Psalm 66:8-15  

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.

I have heard them called “foxhole conversions”—spiritual decisions made while under fire. People make some pretty significant promises when they are in trouble. “God, I will do anything and go anywhere and tell anybody….”

Then the problem passes. The relationship is restored, the tests are clear, or the treatment works. When the trouble goes away, the urgency for God seems to disappear as well.  

However, God uses difficult times to refine us and put us on the path that leads to “a place of abundance.” Today’s passage reminds us to fulfill our vows…the vows we made when we were in trouble, the vows we made when God had our attention. God uses storms to help us see our need for Him more clearly. He doesn’t want us to forget our dependence on Him or our promises to Him after the storm passes.

Father, help me keep my promises to You. Help me not renegotiate or ignore the vows I made when I was in trouble. In Jesus’ name. Amen.