A new year’s prayer

Not intended originally to be prayed on New Year’s Day but here is one fitting example of a way to pray today or any other day!

O LORD,

Let me faithfully study my character,

be willing to bring it to light,

observe myself in my trials,

judge the reality and degree of my grace,

consider how I have been ensnared or overcome.

Grant that I may never trust my heart,

depend upon any past experiences

magnify any present resolutions,

but be strong in the grace of Jesus:

that I amy know how to obtain relief from a guilty conscience

without feeling reconciled to my imperfections.

–Valley of Vision in the prayer of “Self-Noughtings”

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A different approach to reading

Justin Taylor shares this thought from Mortimer Adler.

Any book intended for the general reader can be understood if you approach it in the right way. What is the right approach? The answer lies in one important–and paradoxical–rule of reading. You should read a book through superficially before you try to master it.

Most of us were taught in school to go to a dictionary when we met an unfamiliar word. We were told to consult an encyclopedia, scholarly commentaries, or other secondary sources to get help with statements we couldn’t understand. The rule to follow on tackling a difficult book calls for exactly the opposite procedure.

Look first for the things you can understand, and refuse to get bogged down in the difficult passages. Read right on past paragraphs, footnotes, arguments, and references that escape you. There will be enough material which you can immediately grasp, and soon it will add up to a substantial foothold from which to climb further. The amount you understand by a quick reading–even if it is only 50 percent or less–will help you to carry some light back to the places which left you in the dark.

The tremendous pleasure that comes from reading Shakespeare was spoiled for generations of high school students who were forced to go through Julius Caesar, Hamlet, or Macbeth scene by scene, looking up all the new words and studying all the scholarly footnotes. As a result, they never really read the play. By the time they got to the end, they had forgotten the beginning and lost sight of the whole.

Instead of being forced to take this pedantic approach, they should have been encouraged to read the play in one sitting and discuss what they got out of that first quick reading. Then they would have been ready to study the play carefully, for they would have understood enough of it to be able to learn more.

Adapted from How to Read a Book, p. 37.

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If you don’t get this resolution right. . .

Stephen Altrogge:

About this time of year, lots of people will write articles about setting spiritual goals for the upcoming year. And I’m all for that. We’re called to strive for holiness and kill our sin. But I want one resolution to be at the top of my list, written in bold letters, underlined, and highlighted:

Resolved: To rest in and savor and understand the gospel more in the coming year.

If I don’t get this resolution right, all my other resolutions will go to pot. If I’m not rooted in God’s love for me, as displayed in the gospel, my spiritual growth will be stunted. If I’m not convinced that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, I’ll be goaded by guilt. If I’m not first amazed at what Christ has done for me, I won’t be motivated to live for Him.

In the New Testament, the prescription for spiritual growth always starts with being bowled over by the gospel. Then comes works of service. If you don’t believe me, read the book of Ephesians.

Read all of  “If You Only Make One Resolution” 

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Joy flows from obedience

“If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God’s will, and with equal joy they would lift a Lazarus in his rags to Abraham’s bosom, or be a chariot of fire to carry an Elijah home.” -John Newton

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Top Ten Resolutions

Most people today are giving it a go at new year’s resolutions (in some cases they will wait till tomorrow or Jan 3 this year because that’s when their holiday period ends).  Among the most common resolutions are those that deal with losing weight or quitting smoking or other health issues, getting out of debt, spending more time in the most significant of our relationships, etc.  Those are good resolutions.

But Nathan Busenitz states the case well that for Christians are resolutions should not just be good–they should be godly.  And Busenitz supplies a great example of what some godly resolutions for Christians might be by using the example of Jonathan Edwards, a great theologian–some argue the greatest theologian–America has ever seen.  Nathan arranges Edwards’ resolution topically this way:

1. To live for God’s glory (see resolutions #s 1, 4, 27)

2. To make the most of this life, in terms of eternal impact (see #s 5, 6, 7, 9, 17, 19, 23, 52, 54, 69)

3. To take sin seriously (see #s 8, 24, 25, 26, 37, 56, 57)

4. To become theologically astute (see #s 11, 28, 30, 39)

5. To be humble (see #s 12, 43, 68)

6. To exhibit self-control in all things (see #s 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 40, 44, 45, 59, 60, 61, 64, 65)

7. To always speak with grace and truth (see #s 16, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 46, 47, 58, 66, 70)

8. To constantly develop an eternal focus (see #s 10, 18, 22, 50, 51, 55, 67)

9. To be a faithful Christian, in prayer and dedication (see #s 29, 32, 35, 41, 42, 63)

10. To daily pursue a fervent love for Christ (see #s 48, 49, 53, 62)

* Edwards also committed himself to keeping his other resolutions (see #s 2 and 3)

I’m thankful for Nathan’s work at Cripplegate and would encourage you to read this post and the others there.

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