Transparent heart icon with white outline and + sign.

Life's busy, read it when you're ready!

Create a free account to save articles for later, keep track of past articles you’ve read, and receive exclusive access to all RP resources.

White magnifying glass.

Search thousands of RP articles

Equipping Christians to think, speak, and act

Open envelope icon with @ symbol

Get Articles Delivered!

Equipping Christians to think, speak, and act delivered direct to your Inbox!

A A
By:

August 3 – The “I wills” of God

“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” – Genesis 12:7 

Scripture reading: Genesis 12:1-9

We’ve been told we are blessed and will be blessed “so-that” we may be a blessing to all the nations. It’s a glorious task but also a weighty responsibility. Do you sometimes think it’s too much? Don’t forget: God has promised!

Yesterday we noted the repetition of “bless.” Today be encouraged by the 7-fold repetition of the Lord’s “I will” in these verses: I will show you a land, I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who curse you, and I will give your descendants this land. I will! Surely, He will!

God is at work. God has spoken. God has promised, and His promises are sure. Rest in the “I wills” of God today and be encouraged to get out and go with His promises tomorrow. As He sends us out as His “so-that” people, remember His promise: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). He is. He has promised. He will.

Don’t forget Jesus prays for you: “Father, I will that those You have given Me be with Me where I am to behold My glory” (John 17:24). We know where we’re going. One day we’ll be with Him, so what do we have to fear? Be encouraged—you are not alone. He reminds us: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He will bless you. He will!

Suggestions for prayer

Ask God to help you rest in the faithfulness of His promises today. Pray to be emboldened in the joy of your salvation to be a “so-that” missionary. Trust God to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. He will!

Pastor John A. Bouwers is pastor of the Hope Reformed Church (URCNA) in Brampton, ON, where he has served since December 2017. He is married to Julie, and they praise God together for His abounding grace and covenant faithfulness. And it is their prayer that together with all of God’s people they and their descendants may be thankful “so-that” people, being taught the ways of the Lord, embracing the promises of the Lord, keeping covenant with the Lord, and then getting out of our comfort zones, “so-that” many more from all the nations may be glad to know God and worship Him. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.

Enjoyed this article?

Get the best of RP delivered to your inbox every Saturday for free.