Resolve…I will…

 Resolve-I will….

: to reach a firm decision about, 

: fixity of purpose : RESOLUTENESS , 

Synonyms: Verb

• choose, conclude, decide, determine, figure, name, opt, settle (on or upon)

Synonyms: Noun

decidedness, decision, decisiveness, determination, determinedness, firmness, granite, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, stick-to-itiveness , Merriam Webster 

There are 3,000 places where the phrase “I will”  or “will” is used throughout the whole Bible… I was  thinking of this as the world watches a small country resolves to stand up to the aggression of a dictator…who in turn has declared what he wills…

Noah…Genesis 6-9, 9 “I wills”

So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

Genesis 6:7

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 9:16

Abraham…Genesis 12-25….many “I wills” ….God’s pledges…

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:2-3

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 28:15

I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

Genesis 43:9

Moses…

So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,

Exodus 3:20-21

I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”

Exodus 6:7-8

Job…

David’s resolve over and over in Psalms…

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Psalm 7:17

Isaiah…

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord  God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2

Satan…

You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Isaiah 14:13-14

Reading through the book of Habakkuk again…he declares…

I will take my stand…

I will quietly wait…

I will rejoice…

I will take joy in the God of my salvation…

Habakkuk….

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 

I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. 

Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. yet I will rejoice in the Lord; 

I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

Habakkuk 2:1,3:16,18a

 As I watched the news of the Ukraine making a stand…asking for prayers, gathering in groups to pray and fight, asking for help…i was struck by the  “I wills “…the resolutions,  the resolves found throughout scripture, spoken by God, spoken by men of old…that determination to stand…people from all over the world are standing with them…are praying for them…helping them hold the line…

One reporters comment, “Do they have the will to back their demonstrations?”

Only time will tell…

Was reminded of this passage Paul wrote to Timothy…thank YOU…

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

2 Timothy 1:6-12

Where is my resolve? And In what or whom?