I never want to go back to the way it was before.

I’d reached a desperate point spiritually, and knew I needed to get serious about spending time in the Word and prayer. I’d tried unsuccessfully for years to stay committed to a daily routine. My frequent failures convinced me that it just couldn’t be done.

Until I heard a man share that he hadn’t missed his “daily quiet time” in more than three years. Three years! Surely he’s joking, I thought. And then he told us about the drastic step he took that helped him keep his commitment... he made a vow. A vow? Isn’t it wrong to make a vow to God?

When it came to that kind of commitment, I was a little timid to say the least! So I searched the Word and found the warning in Ecclesiastes that it’s better not to make a vow than to make one and break it. But I also found instances where vows were made to God—and kept! Why did I fear making a vow to spend time daily in His Word? Because I recognized the seriousness of it! It meant no going back—I’d have to keep that vow.

I struggled a bit before I knelt to voice the vow I’ve never regretted making. I don’t think I would’ve ever found victory in this area of my life without such a serious approach—I needed to go beyond trying and just do.

Other than salvation, nothing has been more life-changing for me than spending time in prayer and in His Word—daily—for several years now.