RESOLUTIONS ... ... ... ...

Jonathan Edwards

While he was still in college at yale in the early 1700's, Jonathan Edwards began to make "Resolutions." These were not just New Year's hopes for a better life; they were deep resolves to be wholly devoted to God all the days of his life. Let me highlight some of his Resolutions (there were 70 in all) with the prayer that they will inspire you to more faithfully follow Christ into the future.

• Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God.
• Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in 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 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, never to do anything out of revenge.
• Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone.
• Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
• Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can.
• 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, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been neglignet - what sin I have committed - and wherein I have denied myself.
• Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism. 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.

Resolved, this year that we are going to go deeper, farther, higher with God than we have ever gone before!

(** Come June 17, and we will be completing our First year in the field)