My list of resolutions for 2010 is shorter than previous years. My focus this year is in making relevant resolutions, accompanied by carefully-laid plans (the hardest part!) on how to move toward attaining the end results I desire.
It is a good mental exercise--resolution-making...sitting down and thinking.
Speaking of 'thinkers'...New Years' Day is too perfect of an opportunity to not do another Jonathan Edwards 'resolution post.'
Rather than listing for you my resolutions for 2010, I think that you would be much more profited by hearing from one who has stood the test of time.
Here are eight choice resolutions from Jonathan Edwards to start off the new decade.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory and to my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence. (Resolution 1)
2. Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. (Resolved 7)
3. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them. (Resolution 28)
4. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live if they were to live their lives over again. Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. (Resolution 52)
5. Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, resolved to endeavor to imitate it. (Resolution 54)
6. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and the torments of hell. (Resolution 55)
7. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. (Resolution 57)
8. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, that is, with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's sermon on Psalm 119:26. (Resolution 65)
Happy resolution-making!
5 comments:
And here is one of JE's resolutions that you, my dear Robbie, make increasingly difficult for me: #20 - Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
I am frequently amazed at how relevant the Reformers and Puritans are to our day. Thank you for this new year's day (and every day of the year) message from one of your favorite dead guys. This is good stuff.
I know...but you keep getting me cookbooks and cool little gadgets...
So in essence I'm blaming you for fanning the flame of my passion for the culinary arts.
#15 - Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
Does the oven count? Oh dear.
God is the great promise-keeper. We, on the other hand, are the great promise-breakers. Yet with the cross central in view we must press on, striving after holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12;14).
Robin, thank you for the good reminders to press on, and for your life, which exemplifies for us a visible demonstration of a Godly life.
Perhaps one other of Mr. Edward's commitments may serve us here, Resolution 56: "Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be."
As you say, Anonymous, we are the great promise-breakers. I read this in the Works last night, wholly by accident, but it is taken directly from Mr. Edwards' diary in the midst of his resolution-making months.
"I find, by experience, that let me make resolutions, and do what I will, with never so many inventions, it is all nothing, and to no purpose at all without the motions of the Spirit of God; for if the Spirit of God should be as much withdrawn from me always as for the week past, notwithstanding all I do, I should not grow, but should languish, and miserably fade away. I perceive, if God should withdraw his Spirit a little more, I should not hesitate to break my resolutions, and should soon arrive at my old state. There is no dependence on myself. Our resolutions may be at the highest one day, and yet, the next day, we may be in a miserable dead condition, not at all like the same person who resolved. So that it is to no purpose to resolve, except we depend on the grace of God. For, if it were not for his mere grace, one might be a very good man one day, and a very wicked one the next."
Amen!
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