Dear Redeeming Grace,

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will for Christ’s sake."

These words were written by an 18 year old young man who would one day be known as one of Americas greatest theologians - Jonathan Edwards. In the span of about a year, Edwards would write 70 "Resolutions" all of which are guided by this desire that God's grace would empower his effort.

I share this because with a new year often comes "resolutions" of our own. Likely they come from a place of both reflection and hope. We see something in ourselves that we'd like to change. Or, there are dreams and desires that have yet to come to fruition. Either way, I think Edwards had the right foundation and we can learn from his example.

In Colossians, Paul wrote: "For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." (Col. 1:29 ESV)

Whatever our resolutions may be, lets ask for, and depend on God's energy and grace working within us to accomplish what will bring Christ glory in our lives this year.