Breaking the Vows That Hold You Captive

Breaking the Vows That Hold You Captive by Cynthia Greene

In response to fear, pain, or past wounds, we sometimes make vows to ourselves without realizing the power they have.  These are called inner vows—personal declarations, promises, or oaths we make to ourselves begin as self-protection, but they influence our thoughts, actions, and relationships for years to come.

Inner vows can arise in response to both real and perceived hurts, offenses, fear, or rejection.  They are an act of self-protection to prevent being hurt in the future, we vow to always do something, or to never do something.  We think, “This person hurt me, so now I am going to do everything I can to keep myself from getting hurt again”.  

An inner vow is our way of saying “No” or “Stop”.  They are often are made out of fear, judgement, and self-protection.   

Examples include:

• “I will never trust again”
• “I will never forgive ______”
• “No one will ever hurt me again”
• “I will never _______  again”
• “I will never allow myself to feel hurt, pain, or sorrow again”
• “I will never be good enough at ________”
• “I will never own________”
• I will never try ________ again”
• “I will always have  _________ problems”.

For more examples click HERE

Inner vows can be spoken aloud or silently to ourselves and are often formed during childhood.  Sometimes we remember the exact moment when we made them, but in most cases, we don’t. Even if we do not consciously remember making the vow, the internal promise remains in our subconscious and influences our thoughts, attitudes and actions as adults, affecting our relationship with both God and others. Inner vows are like permanent bricks we build around our heart and emotions to protect ourselves, but they can prevent us from fully turning to God with our hurts and pains.

What are the fruits of making inner vows?

The consequences of inner vows may include:

• Constant struggle to overcome sins.
• Being easily triggered, offended, or defensive.
• Isolation, rejection, misunderstanding, distrust.
• Pride, bitterness, and resentment.
• Become unteachable in certain areas of life.
• No longer submitting to God, but instead to our ourselves in those areas.
• Strongholds can form—which become doors for the enemy to deceive us and reinforce the lies we believe.
• Openness to deception, misunderstanding, defensiveness, and anger.

Why Inner Vows are Sin?

“But I say to you, do not swear (“falsely”) at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:34-37)

Jesus teaches us not to swear by heaven, earth, or ourselves. He says those kinds of promises are from the evil one.  Why?  Because when you make an inner vow, you are taking authority over that area of your life and placing yourself in the position of lordship instead of Jesus Christ.

Renouncing Inner Vows

Renouncing inner vows can lead to emotional freedom, healing, and breaking of strongholds in your life.  These inner vows often subconsciously control our emotions, thoughts, actions, and behaviors negatively affecting our relationships and decisions.  It is important to renounce inner vows aloud bringing them into the light and cutting off the enemy’s authority over them. 

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any inner vows you have made.  (Psalm 139:23)
2. Repent of the sin.
3. Forgive anyone who played a role in your inner vow.
4. Submit that area of your life to God.
5. Praise God and give thanks for revealing these hidden sins that have kept you trapped. 
6. Turn your hurts and pains over to God and pray for a teachable heart and mind.
7. Replace the negative thoughts associated with the inner vows with Scripture and the truths from God.

Sample Prayer:

I confess the sin of vowing or promising myself ___________________.  I repent for making a judgement against _________, believing a lie, taking on negative thoughts, reacting _______.

I forgive the person(s) ________________ for influencing me as I was trying to build defenses to protect myself.

I renounce and come out of agreement with this vow and ask to be released of all fear, shame, bitterness, or self-protection and any other holds the enemy has on me in this area.

Father, I choose to submit to You in these areas of my life to you and ask that you replace these inner vows with Your truth.  Heal my mind and heart.

All praise, thanks and glory go to you Lord–my Protector, Defender, and Provider.

Hope Ahead

Inner vows are the opposite of what God wants for us.  A hardened heart becomes unteachable, defensive, angry, and easily triggered.  In Ezekiel 36:26 we read: 

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

We can take hope in God’s promises to always be there for us and to help us:

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, NLT)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.”  (Jeremiah 17:7, NKV)

“The Lord is faithful and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”  (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

By breaking inner vows we remove the burden we were never meant to carry.  Healing, restoration and freedom can begin in those areas of our lives. 

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:32)