A New Year's Resolution
(Matthew Henry)
"My times are in Your hand!" Psalm 31:15
Firmly believing that my times are in God's hand, I here submit myself and all my affairs for the ensuing year, to the wise and gracious disposal of God's divine providence. Whether God appoints for me . . . .
health or sickness,
peace or trouble,
comforts or crosses,
life or death-
may His holy will be done!
All my time, strength, and service, I devote to the honor of the Lord Jesus-and even my common actions. It is my earnest expectation, hope, and desire, my constant aim and endeavor-that Jesus Christ may be magnified in me.
In everything I have to do-my entire dependence is upon Jesus Christ for strength. And whatever I do in word or deed, I desire to do all in His name, to make Him my Alpha and Omega. I have all from Him-and I would use all for Him.
If this should prove a year of affliction, a sorrowful year to me-I will fetch all my supports and comforts from the Lord Jesus and stay myself upon Him, His everlasting consolations, and the good hope I have in Him through grace.
And if it should be my dying year-then my times are in the hand of the Lord Jesus. And with a humble reliance upon His mediation, I would venture into the eternal world looking for the blessed hope. Dying as well as living-Jesus Christ will, I trust, be gain and advantage to me.
Oh, that the grace of God may be sufficient for me, to keep me always a humble sense of my own unworthiness, weakness, folly, and infirmity-together with a humble dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ for both righteousness and strength.
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"Remember that your life is short, your duties are many, your assistance is great, and your reward is sure. Therefore faint not, persevere in ways of holiness-and Heaven shall make amends for all!" Thomas Brooks
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You may want to read J.R. Miller's insightful one page article, "A New Year".
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On this New Year's day, you might want to ponder and seriously consider The RESOLUTIONS of Jonathan Edwards.