Spiritual Resolutions

January, 2006

by: Jack Hughes

• Spiritual Growth

Though each day is the first day of the rest of your life, the beginning of the new year has always been a favorite time to make resolutions. Since growing in the Lord is the path of greatest resistance, procrastination comes easy and the pursuit of those difficult but necessary endeavors to help us grow spiritually are easy to put off. New Year’s Day, however, is often the very excuse many people look for to make resolutions for the coming year. Though Christians should never put off their spiritual resolutions, starting them at New Year’s is better than never starting at all. Our life is a vapor that appears for a little while and is gone (James 4:14). We need to make the most of our time for the days are evil (Eph. 5:15-16). Agreeing with what is right is usually not enough. We have to commit to do something. We have to resolve to take action lest we fall into complacent rebellion. To resolve, according to Webster, is to decide firmly on a course of action.

While every godly man and woman makes resolutions for their lives in order to grow in holiness, history has never produced anyone who was as systematic in making spiritual resolutions than Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was born in 1703. He was a genius and theological prodigy. His writings and preaching were used by the Lord in what has been called the Great Awakening, a revival that swept across New England. Edwards was regarded as the leading theologian of his day and is still considered by many to be the greatest intellect and theologian America has ever produced.

Edwards wrote his first twenty resolutions in one sitting in 1722. By August 17, 1723 Edwards completed his list of 70 resolutions. Edwards wrote at the beginning of his resolutions, “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do 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.” Then he wrote this reminder, “Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.”

Because of space I have only included a sampling of Edward’s resolutions. Read them, and as you do, ask yourself which of these resolutions should be your resolution for the coming year.

• Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and 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.
• Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
• Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
• Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
• Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
• Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
• Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
• Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
• Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
• Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.
• Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.
• Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
• Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
• Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance, in eating and drinking.
• Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
• Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
• Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
• Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
• Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
• Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
• Resolved, in narrations never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.
• Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
• Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,— what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.
• Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
• Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. January 12, 1723.
• Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.
• Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.
• Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.
• Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
• 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. July 8, 1723.
• Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
• 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 hell torments. July 8, 1723.
• Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
• Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.
• Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.
• Resolved, never to do anything but duty, and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, to do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man: knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord. June 25 and July 13, 1723.
• Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
• Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness, of which 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 every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton' s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.
• Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
• Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.
• Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.

So what spiritual resolutions are you going to make and strive after this year and for the rest of your life? What specific commitments are you going to resolve to do in order to keep you from sin? May this year bring everyone at Calvary Bible Church closer to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. May we live every day like it is our last day, as if by the end of today we would all be standing before the Lord Jesus Christ.