EATING OUR WORDS
Today's reading: Matthew 26-28

"Peter declared, Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will." Matthew 26:33 NLT

It doesn't say it here, but if I were to guess, Peter spoke these words with enthusiasm, zeal, volume and determination.

I am going to guess he was a fella who used hand gestures and body movement to intensify the statement he was trying to make.

I'm also to to take a guess in stating that he truly, wholeheartedly, believed what he said--at the moment.

But when he had to eat his words?

When the rooster crowed that next morning?

When he realized what he had done not only once...or twice...or three times?

I'm sure those words rang in his ears and sat sourly on his stomach.

Sometimes the promises and vows and charges we take before the Lord do that.

Especially when the times are easy, the emotions are raw and the challenges are pressing us to make rash decisions that we haven't prayed through.

Peter had no earthly clue as to what he was truly saying. He had no idea what he would experience. What he would see. How he would feel. The reactions he would have.

And neither do we.

So we must always to turn to God before making promises we cannot keep.