“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2
Immediately after Becky died I was drawn to worship music and to scripture that makes an ‘I will’ declaration. Phrases such as “I will stand”; “I will worship”; “I will praise”; “I will follow”; all appeal to my desire to stand firm in faith in the midst of faith-shaking circumstance.
I searched my concordance on the phrase “I will” and found 2,184 matches for that phrase. The phrase seems to be pretty evenly distributed between “I will” declarations that the Lord makes and “I will” declarations that individuals make to the Lord or each other. The phrase implies commitment, determination, promise, and faithfulness. The phrase isn’t a stand-alone phrase – it is a future looking voice that is applied to many actions. “I will” stakes a claim for today that intends to continue into every tomorrow.
There have been many days in my life since December 29, 2010 where standing in faith has been an act of sheer will. But I’ve found that as I’ve chosen to stand in faith the pleasure, comfort, and assurance that I once found in that faith is returning. As I continue in my “I will” stance I can testify that God is being faithful to His “I will” promises for my life.
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:5
GLEANINGS from Claudia 
I know this comparison is very superficial, but the weirdest thing happened to Mike a couple of weeks ago….he completely lost his sense of taste. He had recently begun taking a couple of new supplements, so he stopped immediately. Now, he is just beginning to be able to taste again. You don’t realize what that “pleasure, comfort, and assurance” means to you until you no longer have it! Mike is so relieved and I’ll bet you are happy to have those positive emotions starting to come back, too! But the whole point of standing in faith is that NO MATTER WHAT, even if you never got those wonderful emotions back, you would continue to stand! That’s what makes your faith so strong.
Thank you Claudia for sharing and teaching us all new things. I am always amazed at what God has in His word for us. Trudy
Good morning, Claudia – You continue to be in my prayers. Had again considered emailing you to confirm that to you. I read this gleaning from you this morning, so will reply here instead. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Psm 143:8 This was sited in today’s reading from “Jesus Calling.” Jean