Well, it’s that time again when many of us make well intended, albeit
superficial, resolutions for this new year. We resolve to exercise more, eat
nutritionally, be the better person, and be more successful, but oftentimes,
these noble resolutions fail to make it through the year. Here’s a novel
idea—how many of us resolve to become more spiritual and closer to God for this
upcoming year?
Note what famous Bible commentator Matthew
Henry wrote in his journal on January 1, 1705, hundreds of years ago, yet
timeless still:
“Not
renouncing, but repeating and ratifying all my former Covenants with God, and
lamenting it, that I have not lived up more closely to them; I do in the
beginning of this New Year solemnly make a fresh surrender of myself, my whole
self, body, soul, and spirit, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my
Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, covenanting and promising, not in any
strength of my own, for I am very weak, but in the strength of the grace of
Jesus Christ, that I will endeavour this year to stand complete in all the Will
of God.
I know this is
the Will of God, even my sanctification; Lord grant that this year I may be
more holy, and walk more closely than ever in all holy conversation; I
earnestly desire to be filled with thy holy thoughts, to be carried out in holy
affections, determined by holy aims and intentions, and governed in all my
words and actions by holy principles. O that a golden thread of holiness may
run through the whole web of this year.”
A radical, revolutionary resolution. Maybe
we should take note. Maybe, this year, we should resolve to implement the same.
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