Have I Taken a Vow?

Some persons who read this blog have asked me if I have taken the vow of The Nazarite. I always tell them, "no". At least not in the traditional sense. Because when they ask this, most of them think that I mean I will not cut my hair, abstain from grape products, do not touch dead people etc. which is the literal vow of the Biblical Nazarite. No, I have not taken a vow in that way, but I am forced to ask myself, "Have a taken a vow?" And most importantly, "What is a vow?" The formal definition is:

"a solemn promise or assertion; specifically: one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition."

The first thing that came to my mind when thinking of "vow" is a marriage or a formal, binding contract of some type. This lead me to think on us as the bride of Christ and sons and daughters of God. Did we take a vow when we agreed to follow The Son? Is this what we agreed to do as believers? After all, most of us who are believers have said within our spirits that we choose to live a certain way unto God. But is this a vow?

Still, I must get back to the original subject, "Do I believe that my choice to live in The Nazarite Spirit is the same as the Nazarites of old - in the area of taking vows?" I do believe in abstinence from the vine in a spiritual context. Because the avoidance of the vine is representative of abstaining from worldly living. The avoidance of dead people means that I will not immerse myself in the lifestyle and ways of the spiritually dead. The allowing of the hair to grow represents humbleness. This means I will not get caught up in myself. I will realize that I am a vessel to be used expressly for God's purposes. Will I say that I have taken a vow? No. Why? Well...because I am not under a contract. I do not feel constrained in any way. I feel impelled. This I do freely of my own will because of the Spirit which The Father has placed in me. I pray that The Father will strengthen me in my walk and allow me to come into the perfect fulfillment of what He has for me. It is not because of pressure or bondage or condition or expectation of something for myself. I choose to live in the Nazarite Spirit for as long as The Father leads me to do so. Peace! Blessings! And much Love!