Introducing Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions: A Timeless Guide to biblically Purposeful Living

Close your eyes for a second. Imagine you're under the wide, sheltering branches of an ancient baobab on the outskirts of Bornia, Navrongo, as the sun dips low. The day's work is done—fields tended, children fed. Laughter rises, hands clasp in prayer, and there's this deep sense of rightness. Everything feels connected: you to your family, your community, the land, and something bigger than all of it. That moment? That's a glimpse at flourishing.

But then reality crashes in: another dry season threatening the crops, rising costs of farm inputs, family pressures, news of hardship across the continent. We wonder—how do we move beyond just getting by to truly thriving? As we breathe new life into Rooted Africa, let's unpack this through the sound biblical thinking of the reformers—a tradition that refuses cheap answers and points us straight to God's grand design for human life. The view held by the early church, recaptured by the Reformers and carried forward by giants like Jonathan Edwards, doesn't align with today's mainstream trendy self-help and endless material success. It declares:
True flourishing is fulfilling God's good purposes for us as His image-bearers.
We're created creative, relational, purposeful—but sin fractured that beauty. Redemption in Christ restores it, step by step. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (that timeless Reformed summary from the 1640s) cuts right to the heart:
"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."
This isn't a boring duty—it's the pathway to the richest, most vibrant life imaginable! Flourishing looks like:

• Deep, living relationship with God through Jesus (the unshakable foundation).
• Loving, healthy bonds with others.
• A whole, integrated life—body, mind, and spirit in harmony.
• Living out your God-given vocation right here, right now—whether planting maize in the Volta Region, coding solutions in Nairobi, mentoring youth, or nurturing your home.

Scripture paints this vividly:

• Psalm 1: The person who delights in God's law is "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season... whatever they do prospers."
• John 10:10: Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (abundant, overflowing life).

This isn't the prosperity gospel's promise of constant wealth and ease. Reformed voices remind us that flourishing often glows brightest in trials—through dependence on God, character forged in fire, and service that blesses others. It's the resilience of the farmer trusting God through failed rains, the entrepreneur choosing integrity over shortcuts, the parent pouring love into the next generation, even when exhausted. In our African context, this vision hits home powerfully:

• It celebrates our communal heartbeat—flourishing is never "me first," but "we together" under God's loving rule.
• It brings hope amid economic strain, climate challenges, and injustice: Circumstances don't define wholeness; leaning into God's grace deepens it.
• It launches us into action: Use your creativity and gifts to glorify God and lift your neighbour—building sustainable communities, ethical businesses, strong families.

Biblical thinking doesn't peddle quick fixes. It offers solid roots: You are not random. You are fearfully and wonderfully made for a relationship with your Creator, for meaningful work, for eternal impact. When we pursue that, we don't merely survive—we flourish in ways that ripple into eternity. The likes of Kind Davide is a perfect example.This is our core pulse: Rooting deeply in God's truth so we bear fruit that lasts. As Christ himself said,  
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" - John 15: 5  
Next post will dive into Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions—practical, fiery commitments from a Reformed master on living this abundant life every single day.What lights you up when you hear "flourish"? Family peace? Purposeful work? Spiritual fire? Community strength? Share below or hit me up on X (

@kateyakli

). No one flourishes alone in God's family—let's grow together!Digging deeper

1. Neil G. Messer, "Human Flourishing: A Christian Theological Perspective," in Measuring Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from the Social Sciences and the Humanities (Oxford University Press, 2021). Outlines a Reformed-rooted view drawing on Karl Barth—multidimensional flourishing as relationship with God, others, embodied life, and vocation. Oxford Academic link
2. Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 1: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." Classic Reformed statement of humanity's purpose. Full text
3. Jonathan Pennington, "A Biblical Theology of Human Flourishing" (Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, 2015). Explores creativity, productivity, and contribution to God's kingdom as central to flourishing. PDF available
4. Scott R. Swain, "Psalm 19 and Human Flourishing," Reformed Blogmatics (2015). Shows how God's law directs us toward true wholeness and delight. Link
5. Tyler J. VanderWeele, A Theology of Health: Wholeness and Flourishing (reviewed in The Gospel Coalition, 2025). Connects health, wholeness, and abundant life to right relationship with God in a Reformed framework. Review link

Stay rooted, keep growing. See you tomorrow for Edwards' first resolution!