I WILL!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Driving to the airport following the 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! 

12 thoughts on “I WILL!”

  2. Amen! I heard a sermon preached once that said when you commit to do something, e.g., keeping someone in your prayers, grab their hands and start praying….just do it. I Will. What a message. what a challenge….okay, I'm jumping in.
    THANK YOU,
    Chelle

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  3. I needed to hear this message. I start off well but don't have the follow through I need to complete projects or activities. Hubby and I went away for a day and a night this week. I found myself feeling tired the day we were gone and the next day as well.I shouldn't have times like that but I do.

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  6. Romans 16 in the Message has a whole list of people and it says "Hello to my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first follower of Jesus in the province of Asia.
    Hello to Mary. What a worker she has turned out to be!
    Hello to my cousins Andronicus and Junias. We once shared a jail cell. They were believers in Christ before I was. Both of them are outstanding leaders…" The people listed were described as: first followers hard worker, family, cell mates, leader, friend, veteran, diligent women, good choice, cousin and sister"

    If YOUR name was in the Bible what would it say about you? "Hello Lauren _______ " ?

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  8. Hi Susan! Great post! Your writing is awesome and inspiring. I hope you are having a good summer. My ankle is healing well and I have graduated from the granny walker to a crutch! All thanks be to God.
    Love, Dawn

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  9. Terri, You're so right about that! We need to always remember we fight FROM victory not FOR it!

    Robin, You're so sweet – a well of encouragement.

    Barb, Funny as always!! When you come back, DO IT! Let's keep each other accountable1
    Susan

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  10. Thanks Susan for this, this is so me, I too, have a lot of “Want to’s” – “I still want to clean out the stuff in my house and drop it off at ditto” Remember you cleaned out last year and got rid of some stuff??? Well I was inspired to do it as well and now here it is a year later and still not done! So now, I WANT to do it but I’m leaving for COTW tomorrow so it will have to wait! I WILL when I get back! Love ya Sister so glad we have something in common! Haha Barb

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  12. But let's also be aware that he is a defeated foe. We stand in victory, already bought and paid for!

    I love that line–so often I forget that he is already defeated and can't win over me.

    Reply

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