Ruth is the Bible’s great picture of commitment. Widowed, with every reason to go home to her own people, she told her mother-in-law Naomi: “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” She didn’t know where it would lead. She kept her word, and became the great-grandmother of King David.
Historical Context
A Prayer for Commitment
Lord, you have never broken a promise to me.
Make me faithful like you.
Help me keep my word when it’s hard,
to stay when it would be easier to leave,
and to finish what I’ve started.
Strengthen my commitment to my family, my work and to you.
Amen.
For Commitment in Marriage
Lord, I promised to love in good times and bad.
Help me keep that promise today, in the ordinary middle of it.
Amen.
For a Relationship Moving Toward Commitment
Lord, give us wisdom about our future.
If this is your will, give us courage to commit to each other.
Amen.
For Commitment to God
Lord, I’ve been half-hearted.
I commit myself to you again: whither thou goest, I will go.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- Before an engagement, wedding or anniversary.
- When tempted to quit something worthwhile.
- At New Year, when making resolutions.
Scripture Connection
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” — Psalm 37:5
Commitment starts with God. When we commit our way to him, he helps us keep the commitments we make to others.
Related prayers
For marriage, see The Knot Prayer and the Prayer for a Long Distance Relationship. For integrity, the Integrity Prayer.