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How to become a determined woman or man?

Resolutions rarely keep us busy beyond January! Yet they can make our lives exemplary. How can we become a resolute woman or man who pleases God and inspires others? In this book, Philippe Viguier encourages us to live carried by convictions founded in the Bible, and to put our will at the service of the will of God. He draws from the 10th chapter of Nehemiah five resolutions which allowed the people of Israel to recover from exile and re-establish a privileged relationship with God. He then challenges us to also adopt these five resolutions, because they have the power to transform all areas of our lives. This edifying book is resolutely oriented towards the practice of discipleship, of which it highlights the essential elements. These many tips and illustrations will help us persevere and keep our resolutions. The chapters conclude with a series of questions, to be addressed alone or in a group, to extend reflection and prepare for putting it into practice. Throughout the pages, with his personal touch of poetry and humor, Philippe Viguier encourages us, edifies us, surprises us. This book will make you want to go ever further with God and live the Christian life with passion. Read at any time, not just at the beginning of the year!

Philippe Viguier is pastor of EPEV-C. He holds a Masters in Theology. He is married and the father of three children. He is co-author of the book The Gospel and the Citizen. His thesis on the glory of God (in English) was published by Lexham Press in 2013.

Extract

RESOLVED HEROES

Why do certain lives go out of the ordinary, mark their time and remain written in the pages of History? The exemplary lives of the Bible demonstrate a common tool: making resolutions. Noah : When God makes a covenant with him, the content of the pact is simple: Noah builds an ark and God saves humanity (Genesis 6.13-22). Noah remains faithful to his resolve for all the years necessary to build this massive ark (it was also through his resolve that the snail entered it). Job : He is known in the Bible for his exemplary character: “This man was honest and upright. He feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1). To remain pure in his youth, he made a decision: “I made a pact with my eyes. How could I have looked at a young girl? » (Job 31.1). Job's integrity is the corollary of his resolutions. Joseph : When Potiphar's wife tries to seduce him, Joseph does not flinch. He is resolved in his heart not to sin against God (Genesis 39:9). Ruth : Following the death of her husband, she declared to her mother-in-law: “Where you go I will go, where you live I will live; your people will be my people and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). This resolution begins one of the most touching stories in the Bible. God then rewards Ruth's faithfulness to her mother-in-law in remarkable ways. David : Author of at least half of the Psalms, he is probably one of the greatest poets in history. His commitment reflects a promise to God: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth” (Psalms 34:2; Segond). Jonathan : The friendship between David and Jonathan is a model without equal in the Bible. This solidarity is the fruit of a resolution: “Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18.3). Jonathan pledges his will and loyalty to David with a promise. Daniel : Upon his arrival in Babylon, he “made a firm decision not to defile himself by consuming the dishes served at the king’s table and the wine at his banquets” (Daniel 1.8). Daniel's first recorded action in the Bible is the making of a resolution, a practice he would carry out throughout his life. From his youth, he risks his life to remain honest, faithful to the codes of God. In his old age, his resolution to pray three times a day earned him a visit to the “zoo” of Babylon, in the lion cage. Esther : Unlike Daniel, she does not begin her story with integrity, but with compromise. However, at the critical moment, she risks her life for her people by adhering to this resolve: “I will enter into the king's house and break the law, and if I must die, I will die” (Esther 1:16). His courage saves thousands of lives. Paul : For his disciple Timothy and for the Church of Thessalonica, he commits to pray night and day (2 Timothy 1.3; 1 Thessalonians 3.10). With the same determination he teaches the believers, admonishing each person night and day (Acts 20:31; Colossians 1:29-30). His resolution to go to Rome to preach the Gospel is more precious to him even than his life. Jesus : The destiny of all humanity depended on its resolution to die for sinners. Jesus fully assumed this choice: “The Father loves me, because I lay down my life to then take it back. No one takes it from me, but I give it of myself” (John 10:17-18a). The list could be long. Have not all the men and women of faith whose lives inspire us been resolved? My question is simple: are you ready to join their ranks? A simple resolution can shape an entire life.
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