A Collect for Carefully Considering our Promises

Holy God, who is patient with us, but only for so long, keep us from being flippant with our promises, and help us to examine carefully what we are stepping into when we commit ourselves to you, that we would not profane your name and ourselves by promising what we cannot keep, but would be honest with ourselves and you about our desires and limits, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ‘ But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.”‘ – Joshua 24:19-20