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Yesterday I asked you if God was your rock.

We need him to be that during tough times -- especially in marriage.

Today I want to know if you're flattering him?

How about lying to him?

Is your heart steadfast?

Are you faithful to his covenant?

I know. Them are fightin' words. How dare I ask you such a thing?!?

Let me remind you that I'm coming directly from the scripture:

They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. (Psalm 78:35-38)

Interestingly, the Israelites remembered that God was their rock, their redeemer.

Then they did what we do so often: they shot him two fingers and did their own thing.

I'll speak for myself as to spare you any pain.

On more than one occasion I have told God what sounded good, but it was a lie.

E.g., God, I'll do what you tell me to do. I'll love Cetelia unconditionally. I'll turn the other cheek. I won't lust. I won't click that link. I won't watch that scene.

Lies, lies, lies.

Why did that happen? Because my heart was not steadfast towards him. I wasn't faithful to his covenant (nor my marriage covenant).

You see, when our heart strays from God, we can't help but stray from his covenant.

We speak sweet-nothings in his ears, then wind up doing things that please us instead of him.

You may recall an email from July where I told you that I did a Herculean job of ignoring Cetelia on our anniversary. I was mad about something, and just didn't want to talk.

I wasted a perfectly good trip out of town because I chose to do things my way of instead of God's.

Mr. Marriage talked a good game and declared what he'd do, but his heart wasn't steadfast. As a result, he strayed from God's covenant.

I encourage you to speak your commitment to God on what you're going to do.

Next, endeavor to do it. You won't always feel like it, but the power -- his power -- is in you to help you.

Thank God that's he's able to cover us when we drop the ball (more on that tomorrow).

However, there are many too times when we're actively throwing the ball down in rebellion instead of merely dropping it.

Let's do better.

He's in us both to do and will of his good pleasure.

Kevin