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.