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New Year's Resolutions and Jonathan Edwards

By Kelly Mowrer

In my New Year’s Eve devotional time tonight, I began thinking about Christian believers in past centuries.

What kind of resolutions did they make?

If I could read and live by the things they focused on, would this help me to know God better?

In 1722, a young man named Jonathan Edwards began writing one of the most well-known lists of Resolutions in church history. I don’t remember when I first read them, but I just reviewed them again and wanted to share with you some that have particularly blessed me.

I’ve paraphrased his words in some places—making the thoughts more personal to me. Reading over them again renews my focus on God. So many things in daily living seem to cloud that focus and distract my attention somewhere else. But a living relationship with God brings our greatest joy and fulfillment and peace—and Jonathan Edwards’ list of resolutions can help us cultivate heart and thought habits that foster real, practical relationship with God.

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards 
(paraphrased and abridged)

Being aware that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I most humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1.       Resolved, that I will do whatever I think will bring God the most glory, knowing that also will be to my own best good, throughout my entire life. Resolved to do whatever I consider to be my duty for the good of mankind in general, no matter how difficult.

2.       Resolved, to be continually seeking new ways to glorify God and do good to others.

3.       Resolved, never to waste even one moment of time; but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

4.       Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

5.       Resolved, never to forget that unmerited grace redeemed a wretch like me, and when I see others fail, I will let that only remind me again of my own great need for mercy.

6.       Resolved, if I recognize that I am enjoying some proud or vain thought, to immediately turn away and stop indulging it.

7.       Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

8.       Resolved, never to allow impatience or anger, and never to speak evil of anyone, upon no account except for some real good.

9.       Resolved, to examine carefully and constantly what weakness in me causes me to doubt the love of God even for a moment, and then to direct all my forces against that weakness to destroy it.

10.   Resolved, to cast away any thoughts or habits that drain or erode my assurance.

11.   Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, that I can rejoice to see how I am growing in the knowledge of the Living Word.

12.   Resolved, especially when things are going well and I am in the best and happiest state of mind, that I will still completely cast my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in Him, and consecrate myself completely to Him; and from this I will have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.

13.   Resolved, that when people and situations are the most annoying, yet I will strive the most to feel and act good-naturedly.

14.   Resolved, after any problem or trial, to meditate on how I have been made better, what good has come to me, and what greater blessing I might have received had my heart been different.

15.   Let there be something of patience and kindness in all that I speak.

© Live at the Well
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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Kelly Mowrer. © Live at the Well.

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You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  Psalm 16:11 NKJV

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