I WILL!!
Driving to the airport following last weekend’s She Speaks conference, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting next to our driver, Bug. Among other things, we talked about the men’s group he leads at his church in NC.
The whole time we talked, I couldn’t help but stare at his bracelet.
/========== I WILL ==========\
Bug shared that the bracelet is from his men’s group study on the book Courageous. The men are encouraged to “man up!” and take responsibility to be the godly husband and dad they’re called to be. The other side of the bracelet says I RESOLVE.
But for me the I WILL was huge.
I usually fall into the I WANT TO camp, often falling short of completing what I set out to do.
- I want to send a note or make a call to let a friend know I’m thinking of her.
- I want to ‘ship’ some writing pieces but I keep “perfecting” them which is in reality just procrastination.
- I want to finish projects around the house but I keep finding some other “priority” to do instead.
- I want to be faithful in reading the Word, but sometimes my eyes just glaze over the words on the page, that is if I even take out my Bible in the first place.
My “want to’s” are pretty well established.
But if I’m honest, I’ll call it what it is – sin. That’s what Paul called it.
The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? Rom. 7:21-24 MSG
Thankfully, Paul doesn’t stop there. He answers that question with this:
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. Rom. 7:25-8:2 MSG
I’m painfully aware that there is an enemy who doesn’t want me to do kingdom work. Since I’m easily distracted, he’ll dangle some bright shiny thing to divert my attention whenever I start about my task. If you’re a task-oriented person, he’ll use some other tactic.
But let’s also be aware that he is a defeated foe. We stand in victory, already bought and paid for!
My action steps following this conference are bullet-points on the back page of my workbook. I want to do them, but will I DO them?
Yes.
Yes, /===I WILL===\
When tempted with distraction, I will remember that bracelet and I WILL do what’s He’s called me to.
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Phil 1:6 MSG
The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it. 1 Thess. 5:24 NIV
What do you struggle with wanting to do, but not actually doing it? Let’s be accountability partners! Leave a comment below. Together, let’s say I WILL, and then let’s DO IT!
Awesome post.
Thanks Denise!
Totally agree!
Great! WE will!
I enjoyed your post Susan! Thanks for sharing and these verses.
Bethany
Bethany, Glad you enjoyed it! Now WE WILL do it!
Susan
Amen to that Susan; I WILL with the help of Jesus. There are many projects I need to work on, but I keep telling myself “It is too hot and I am tired”. Today “I WILL”.