The final of my resolutions,
just in time for New Years. Below I have given all 25 so they can be copied and
pasted and modified and used for your own should you want.
Resolution 1
I am resolved ...
To live each hour as if
the next one contained the rapture and the inevitable meeting of my Lord Jesus,
whom I wish dearly to hear say to me at that glorious time: 'well done, good
and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you
in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Resolution 2
I am resolved ...
To not look down on
others who are living in sin but to walk humbly with my God, acting justly and
loving mercy - because, in my own sinful past and present, I have required much
mercy and grace from Him.
Resolution 3
I am resolved ...
To watch for, above all
things, the growth of pride in my life. To understand myself blessed in spite
of myself and my sinfulness and thus understand that I have no justification
for pride nor vanity. Furthermore I will not expect nor demand such an attitude
in others.
Resolution 4
I am resolved ...
To endeavour to discover
worthy objects in my sphere for charity and liberality. To give cheerfully
where I am able - and even occasionally so that it hurts - that I might know
that I am no slave to the pursuit of wealth or happiness.
Resolution 5
I am resolved ...
To never to do anything
out of revenge.
Resolution 6
I am resolved ...
To use the same scales
and measures I use on others on myself. To not judge hastefully (unless this is
unavoidable) nor hypocritically - and repent humbly when I discover I have done
so.
Resolution 7
I am resolved ...
To recognize my human
fragility of intellect, strength and faithfulness - first and foremost among
men, but also to recognize this fallen truth of all men, particularly teachers
past and present - knowing no full human authority other than the apostles and
other authors of scripture.
Resolution 8
I am resolved ...
To recognize my
God-gifted strengths and work his will in my life accordingly but also to test
my grain and occasionally operate outside my comfort and ability for his great
glory - relying on his mighty arm where mine fails.
Resolution 9
I am resolved ...
To act with prudent haste
in all the Lord's work for me while taking care to avoid presumption.
Resolution 10
I am resolved ...
To recognize each
assignment from God as a gift - a real occasion to live out my faith and begin
to thank him in more than words.
Resolution 11
I am resolved ...
To recognize each
discipline from God as the love of a concerned parent. To humbly track back
what behaviour might have caused such chastisement and to repent of it swiftly
and with gratitude for his correction. To continue to ask him to refine me and
prune me that I might be a man after his heart and a delight to him who has
given more than I can ever know.
Resolution 12
I am resolved ...
To contend for the faith
and the true gospel to my last breath without shame nor hesitation so help me o
God.
Resolution 13
I am resolved ...
To love the Word and
examine the scripture and - should it so lead me - to abandon cherished notions
and traditions or ideas that are extra to or contrary to scripture.
Resolution 14
I am resolved ...
To study the scriptures
so steadily, constantly and frequently, that it becomes evident – even obvious
– to myself that my knowledge of them has grown. With diligence and the help of
the Holy Spirit to write them on my heart.
Resolution 15
I am resolved ...
To look after my weaker
brothers and sisters in the faith. To disciple them and shepherd them where I
may without quarrelling over disputable matters or hollow philosophy.
Resolution 16
I am resolved ...
To look up to stronger
brothers and sisters in the faith. To support them and pray for them and thank
God for them and their example.
Resolution 17
I am resolved ...
To keep a civil tongue
and a mild manner and pray for the Holy Spirit's help in this - that I may conform
to the image of my beloved Saviour and be a man of salt and light, in the world
but not of it.
Resolution 18
I am resolved ...
To never consider
something a prayer, nor utter a petition that, when making it I cannot actually
hope that God will answer; nor offer as a confession anything which I cannot
hope God will accept. Rather to ask in line with his revealed wisdom and
confess with pure honesty to him from whom no need nor deed can be hidden.
Resolution 19
I am resolved ...
To grow in stature as a
prayer warrior, waking up every morning in conversation with the Lord and
speaking with him throughout each day, both alone and with others, in times of
strife and times of blessing or even in the mundane.
Resolution 20
I am resolved ...
To pray constantly for
other people. To seek specifics and to ask God to help me so grow as a prayer
minister.
Resolution 21
I am resolved ...
To seek God's mission for
my life but understand that I am a father and a husband, a son and a colleague
and a friend, and thus my first mission field are those I intersect with in my
daily life. They are my first Devine appointments.
Resolution 22
I am resolved ...
To watch for slothfulness
in my life and strike a balance between diligence and rest. To seek the highest
quality of self discipline daily so that I might achieve much in my short life
this side of heaven, rejoicing in the gift of time, health, strength and
talents as God has seen fit to bless me. Let everything I do be done for His
glory.
Resolution 23
I am resolved ...
To look up, to watch, as
we have been commanded, for the day of his coming. To carefully examine the
world's birth pangs, to look for the green twig on the fig tree and the
inevitable falling together of events predicted in prophecy. To use these as
encouragement to my fellow elect and warning to the lost, but to do so with
great care, for none truly knows the exact hour of his coming.
Resolution 24
I am resolved ...
To not quench the spirit
nor despise prophetic utterances but to rather examine everything carefully
holding fast to that which is good while abstaining from every form of evil. To
seek providence rather than prophecy for the scripture is closed.
Resolution 25
I am resolved ...
That if ever I fail or
grow weary or whenever I begin to neglect the keeping of any part of these
resolutions; I will repent of everything I can remember that I have violated or
neglected …as soon as I come to my senses again.
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