January and February 2012

Another New Year is upon us. The world makes resolutions; we will make more time for our family, be kinder to our neighbors, go on a diet, learn a foreign language, watch less TV or read more good books. We like the idea of a new beginning. We all get a fresh start on day one. The idea of making resolutions is not bad. There is Biblical warrant for wanting to see change in your life. This is the time to ask: what needs to change in my life? What bad habits need to be put off? What good graces need to be nurtured? Will this be the year I finally win my battle or defeat my dragon?

For the believer, resolutions are more than making a good effort at self-improvement. For the child of God change, change happens, not by self effort, but by God's grace. Biblical resolutions begin with the following questions: What does God want for my life? Do I trust a sovereign God to fulfill his purposes for me? Will I thank him in the year ahead for the unexpected blessings he brings? Will I accept the trials he will surely bring with courage and patience?

Biblical resolutions take up matters of godly character such as those Jesus addresses in the beatitudes. I desire to be poor in spirit, merciful, and hungry for righteousness. Godly resolutions aspire to God-honoring relationships with the help of the Holy Spirit: I will be quick to listen, I will not speak in anger, and I will not gossip. I will put the interests of others ahead of my own.

In 1723, Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher in New England, wrote out 70 resolutions taking up matters of personal mission, time management, relationships, finances, suffering, and character: "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."

Here are ten of Edwards' resolutions:

1. Resolved always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
2. Resolved to ask myself at the end of each day where I could have done better.
3. Resolved never to speak evil of anyone.
4. Resolved never to do anything out of revenge.
5. Resolved to inquire after afflictions, how I am better for the, and what good I got from them.
6. Resolved never to do anything that I hate to see in others, or to think meanly of him (who does it).
7. Resolved when I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I deem it praiseworthy in me, to endeavor to imitate it.
8. Resolved to examine carefully what that one thing in me is which causes me to doubt the love of God and to direct all my forces against it.
9. Resolved never to slacken my fight with my corruptions, no matter how unsuccessful I may be.
10. Resolved to cast my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him and conseccrate myself wholly to him... knowing that I confide in my Redeemr.

Now it's my turn: I resolve to believe that I am a well-loved son of God, no matter how I feel. I resolve to seek the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit when faced with temptation. And I resolve to cherish God's good gifts, but not to love the gifts more than the giver.

Now it's your turn. What improvements do you need to make?