Page 027 - A Teenager's Resolutions
*Verses from AMP
"In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths" (Amp: Proverbs 3:6)
When Jonathan Edwards was 19 years old, he desired to follow the Lord as much as possible. He realized Christ would have to give him the strength to do what he had resolved in his heart, but he was nevertheless determined to be spiritually exercised to fulfill these resolutions. Although he had 70 items he wanted to fulfill, I have selected 12 for our consideration. It shows that a young person can lead the way in spiritual things as Edwards' did:
#1 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.
#2 To do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
#3 Never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
#4 To be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
#5 To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
#6 Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise Him for, or to think any way the more meanly of Him
#7 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.
#8 To strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
#9 To ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better.
#10 Never hence-forward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's.
#11 Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
#12 After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.