Reflections on Resolutions (Day 3)

Well, just wanted to write down what is running through my head three days after writing those hard core resolutions down! I'd love to say that I'm now a different person, but guess what? The same sinner woke up the next morning! I do have a couple of high level observations, though.

Convictions unstated are rarely lived out.
When we don't write our or state our convictions, it is very easy for them to disappear. There was something in the writing down and "publishing" of those resolutions that I can look back to and remember. By reading them again, my dedication is renewed. It reminds me that, "Yes, that's the way I want to live."

Resolutions help us evaluate how we spend our time.
It may sound a little overboard, but as I check my activities against these resolutions, I have been more efficient and intentional with my time.

Resolutions should be generic enough to have room for added depth.
What does living life pursuing God's glory look like? Can this include watching football? Does God delight in acts we might classify as common grace? If so, to what degree should they be pursued? If the resolutions have too much detail they would cease to have effectivity as my life changes. Keeping them generic will help them have continuing effect down the road.

Resolutions must be Biblical.
It can be easy to make resolutions without firmly grounding them in the Word. One of my future endeavors is to take each point and back it with God's Word. Otherwise, I am drifting in a sea of Matt's thought. Scary!

Now the real question - have I kept them? Maybe you've missed my drift - NO! The point is not to keep them perfectly but to give guidance.

May God give more grace!

Resolutions

Ok, finally got around to compiling some of my own thoughts... I pulled from JE's format because I liked the force of conviction with which he listed his resolutions. I know that these are not something to be kept perfectly, but hope that by God's grace they will form a reminder to me on a consistent basis of what my life is about. This week God had to grapple with my heart as He revealed to me my lack of true dedication to Him. I realized Lewis' quote in The Weight of Glory described me when he said:

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

I tend to fool around with tv, computers, reading, fun, etc... when infinite and eternal joy is offered. It is to be found in life lived to God's glory. If you don't get what I mean, go read Desiring God.

So, here they are...

Relying solely on the righteousness of Jesus Christ who by his life and death has become my justification and sanctification, I do purpose the following:

1. Resolved, that my life would be about pursuing God’s glory and not my own.
2. Resolved, to place value on and pursue only activities which bring God glory.
3. Resolved, to see myself as I truly am – a beggar before God – and to live as if this were true in my interactions with others.
4. Resolved, to never live lackadaisically, but to live with all my might.
5. Resolved, to make the Gospel my meta-narrative.
6. Resolved, to love my wife and give up myself as Christ did for the church.
7. Resolved, to never accept lazy spirituality.
8. Resolved, to always place others above myself and to regard myself as nothing.
9. Resolved; to lead my wife, family, and in any other sphere God may place before me.
10. Resolved; to repent from my failures, plead the righteousness of Christ, and make reconciliation with those I hurt.

Resolutions and The New Year

By God's grace we have entered 2007. The changing of the calendar is, along with the birthday, one of those days that God has placed in our lives that can cause us to pause for a little reflection. In this way, New Year's resolutions are a positive thing. How do I want to be different at this time next year? The old saying, " If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit your target" is true. Being intentional is important. I haven't sat down and really given the thought I want to to this year's goals, but to help me to that end, I wanted to put out the first eight resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (written at age 20)... These are not as my resolutions, but are helping me begin to think deeply about life and the end to which we are living. Numbers 6,7, and 8 hit me like a ton of bricks.

1. 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.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.