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Getting Ready for 2022

By December 30, 2021No Comments

Every new year brings natural occasions of reflection and resolution.

“Look what transpired this year!”

“Look what needs to change this year!”

Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions are well known, at least seventy of which have been gleaned from his writings.

Resolution 42 – “Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.”

Writing out seventy resolutions as you enter 2022 might be overkill! However, it would be to your momentary and eternal benefit to make a few, practical goals guided by God’s Word.

Review and settle your mind and heart on God’s absolute sovereignty.

In His sovereignty God always has in mind His own glory and our eternal good!

Meditate upon great texts such as 1 Chronicles 29:11-13: “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name” (Christian Standard Bible).

Anticipate and plan for change, challenge and transformation!

Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Be transformed by renewing your mind (Romans 12:2).

Act and react! Make it your purpose to deliberately, intentionally live as redeemed by the work of Christ!

The aphorism is certainly true: “He who aims at nothing surely succeeds.” Press toward the mark of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ (Philippians 3:14). Don’t live aimlessly but with true biblical focus.

Evaluate, confess and correct purposes, plans and patterns that are not aligned with God’s.

Look to Jesus Christ, the originator and completer of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Let every act of devotion, every act of abstinence be grounded in the love Jesus Christ has for you. His grace will sustain and empower all our efforts to live for Him.

This we must do in 2022: forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, achievable by God’s grace.