A devotional by Stan Key (from Face-to-Face [Francis Asbury Press, 2015])
Scripture reading: Philippians 3:7–15
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
—Ecclesiastes 5:4–5
The new year invites us to start fresh. To do better than we did last year. To make new commitments to improve our lives and deepen our faith. We need those moments in our lives when we prayerfully reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, whether it relates to finances, time management, diet, exercise, or spiritual disciplines. It’s much easier then to adjust our priorities, fine tune our aim, and recommit ourselves to what is truly important.
Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), considered by many to be one of the greatest philosopher-theologians that America has ever produced, began while a student at Yale to make resolutions which he took very seriously. He was determined to live his entire life wholly devoted to God, but knew that such a goal would require spiritual disciplines. These were not just pious intentions aimed at self-improvement, they were promises to live a life of total consecration to God and whole- hearted devotion to his will and purposes. Eventually, Edward’s list contained seventy such resolutions, including the following:
- 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 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 own 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 negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month, and year.
- 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.
As you begin this new year, do you need to make some resolutions that will better enable you to be the person God wants you to be? If you hesitate because of failure in the past, consider this: If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it!
Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.
—Wiliam Carey
Point to Ponder • If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it!