Have a good day, sir...

Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century revivalist, sat down at the age of 17 and penned 21 resolutions by which he would live his life. Throughout his lifetime he would add to this list until, by his death, he had 70 resolutions.

He put at the top of his list:
“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.

At the bottom he put:
“Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.”

Jonathan Edwards didn’t casually make resolutions with an expectation of breaking them. Each week he did a ‘self-check.’ He regularly summed up how he was doing and sought God’s help in the process.

Unfortunately, the trouble with many of us is when our resolutions collide with our old habits. However, Christ calls us to commit to actively work at becoming conformed to His image. Sadly, there is a lot of casualness about being a follower of Christ today so let’s resolve to become a people committed to a Godly transformation.

Let’s also not think of resolutions as just a New Year practice because each day is a new beginning. A mere date on the calendar is no more a divider of time than a particular grain of sand a separate part of the desert.

So today why not:
> Resolve to stop magnifying small problems.
> Make time to be kind and thoughtful.
> Give encouragement to someone. It might give someone a badly needed ‘faith-lift’.
> Think things through.
> Forgive an injustice.
> Free yourself from jealousy and malice
> Listen more.
> Apologise when you realise you’re wrong.
> Try to understand an opinion that’s different from your own.
> Examine the demands you make on others.
> Lighten up.
> Don’t take yourself too seriously.
> Be an optimist.
> When courage is needed, ask yourself: "If not me, who? If not now, when?"
> Walk tall and smile more.

> Finally, don’t be afraid to say, "I love you".

Inspired by J.John... www.philotrust.com