I Resolve

I Resolve

I resolve memeAs I watched the animation show I, the main character is in a battle with an enemy he has overcome before. But he now finds that he is on the enemy’s territory and the enemy has gained strength five times more than before. As Ichigo has fought hard and is wounded and bruised the enemy taunting him insists that he will defeat him. Determined to save his friend that has been thrown into prison and is facing certain execution, he searches within himself and begins to recall the crucial and rigorous training he went through in preparation for his journey to the place he now find himself in.

As he remembers the lessons from training he says these two words, “I resolve”. In doing so he gains focus and power. Ichigo defeats his foe a captain in the army of his enemy, who also tells him that even though he defeats him, there are others that Ichigo will be faced with that are even more powerful than his current opponent was.

This reminds me of what we as Christians face today when we make a decision to serve Christ. We have a journey, destiny, destination, calling, and purpose that we must press our way to. On the journey there is an army that stands with the enemy and we will have to fight in battle. Each battle the opponent will be bigger, stronger, more powerful and highly ranked. But in order for us to come out victorious we have to set our minds to say that “I RESOLVE”. Resolve means to settle or find a solution, decide firmly on a course of action, but most importantly, it is a firm determination to do something, a commitment.

We have to determine that we will press on in spite of the circumstances we find ourselves surrounded by. Ichigo stood with confidence as David did when facing the giant Goliath. We must know that God has equipped and trained us with His word and His word is our armor and weapon in the fight. Watching this show I found that the main character had a spiritual power that he knew not the capacity of. He did not know who he was and what he was capable of until he tapped into another world. A spiritual world where there is a continuous battle between what they call soul reapers (protectors) and hollows (demons) over souls. As are we before we come to know Christ and he opens our eyes to who and what we are in Him. It is not until then that we begin to find out the power that God has given to us.

With this still pressing in my spirit this morning, I as usual go to the Lord with a press in my heart to say Lord I resolve. I desire to be determined to stay the course that God has laid out for me, fulfilling His will in my life. I go to the word and I find in it those that resolved to do something. I found encouragement in Ruth who resolved to go with her mother-in-law and serve her God.

Ruth 1:16-18 King James Version (KJV)

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

In doing so she found favor with God and he blessed her. I also found encouragement in how to stay determined in Christ regardless of what I face. To know that there is nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate me from Him and His love for me.

Romans 8:35-39 King James Version (KJV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

At the end of the day I am not perfect or will have completely perfected this determination that I have in my heart for God but I most certainly do not have to stop going after the things of God. I find this encouragement in his word to continue on in Him:

Philippians 3:12-14 King James Version (KJV)

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Lord I thank you for what you have done in my life. Thank you that you have called, chosen, trained and equipped me to be a servant in Christ. Bless my heart oh God to stay determined and committed to the things and ways of Christ. When I start to feel defeated by the blows and fiery darts of an ever increasing army of the enemy, remind me of those two words that can increase the power within me, to say “I resolve”, and my enemy in battle will be defeated with the power of the Holy Ghost that resides in me. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Originally posted on December 20, 2016 @ 9:00 AM

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