Everything for God's Glory
By Rooted Africa (
Jonathan Edwards didn’t just make God’s glory his main goal—he kept raising the bar. First, he set the target (Resolution 1). Then he promised to chase that goal in new ways (Resolution 2). And when he blew it? He planned to own up and repent (Resolution 3). Now, in Resolution 4, he takes it all the way: no exceptions, no dark corners, nothing off-limits.
Resolution 4 Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. Let’s put that in plain English. Edwards decided he wouldn’t do anything—big or small, inside or out—unless it pointed to God’s glory. If something crept in that didn’t line up, he’d root it out. No compromise. This isn’t a half-hearted rule. It covers everything: what you think, what you say, how you act, what you do with your time. Work, rest, the way you talk to people, even your downtime—none of it sits in some “neutral” zone. Everything pulls you closer to God or pushes you away. Edwards wanted a life where nothing got wasted. No quietly tolerated sin. No split loyalties. Why does this matter now? Look around. Distractions are everywhere—your phone, tiny compromises you barely notice, habits that seem harmless but slowly drift you off course. Edwards pushes us to ask: Is there any part of my life where God’s glory isn’t the point? Even the little things shape your heart. It’s not about being a legalist or checking religious boxes. Edwards understood that real freedom and real joy occur when every aspect of life aligns with what God wants. How do you actually do this? Take a hard look at daily habits. Does this meal, this show, this conversation, this work—does it honour God or just drain you? Pay attention to your thoughts and motives. When you feel pride, envy, or worry start to take root, catch it early and turn your mind back to God. Act. When you spot something that doesn’t honour God, don’t let it slide. Stop it if you can—no excuses. Ask God for help. Edwards knew this wasn’t something you muscle through. He depended on God’s grace and prayed for a pure heart every day. Here are a few questions to chew on: What small habit or thought in my life doesn’t point to God’s glory? Where do I give myself a pass or make excuses? How would seeing every moment through this lens change my day? Edwards checked in on his resolutions every week. Staying alert took real effort. Maybe that’s something we can learn from him, too. Resolution 4 isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency. Don’t leave any part of your life untouched by God’s glory. What jumps out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments or on X (@kateyakli). Come back tomorrow for Resolution 5. This is Day 4 in our daily journey through Jonathan Edwards’ 70 Resolutions.
@kateyakli
)Jonathan Edwards didn’t just make God’s glory his main goal—he kept raising the bar. First, he set the target (Resolution 1). Then he promised to chase that goal in new ways (Resolution 2). And when he blew it? He planned to own up and repent (Resolution 3). Now, in Resolution 4, he takes it all the way: no exceptions, no dark corners, nothing off-limits.
Resolution 4 Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. Let’s put that in plain English. Edwards decided he wouldn’t do anything—big or small, inside or out—unless it pointed to God’s glory. If something crept in that didn’t line up, he’d root it out. No compromise. This isn’t a half-hearted rule. It covers everything: what you think, what you say, how you act, what you do with your time. Work, rest, the way you talk to people, even your downtime—none of it sits in some “neutral” zone. Everything pulls you closer to God or pushes you away. Edwards wanted a life where nothing got wasted. No quietly tolerated sin. No split loyalties. Why does this matter now? Look around. Distractions are everywhere—your phone, tiny compromises you barely notice, habits that seem harmless but slowly drift you off course. Edwards pushes us to ask: Is there any part of my life where God’s glory isn’t the point? Even the little things shape your heart. It’s not about being a legalist or checking religious boxes. Edwards understood that real freedom and real joy occur when every aspect of life aligns with what God wants. How do you actually do this? Take a hard look at daily habits. Does this meal, this show, this conversation, this work—does it honour God or just drain you? Pay attention to your thoughts and motives. When you feel pride, envy, or worry start to take root, catch it early and turn your mind back to God. Act. When you spot something that doesn’t honour God, don’t let it slide. Stop it if you can—no excuses. Ask God for help. Edwards knew this wasn’t something you muscle through. He depended on God’s grace and prayed for a pure heart every day. Here are a few questions to chew on: What small habit or thought in my life doesn’t point to God’s glory? Where do I give myself a pass or make excuses? How would seeing every moment through this lens change my day? Edwards checked in on his resolutions every week. Staying alert took real effort. Maybe that’s something we can learn from him, too. Resolution 4 isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency. Don’t leave any part of your life untouched by God’s glory. What jumps out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments or on X (@kateyakli). Come back tomorrow for Resolution 5. This is Day 4 in our daily journey through Jonathan Edwards’ 70 Resolutions.
References for Further Reading
- Full text of Edwards' Resolutions: https://www.jonathan-edwards.org/Resolutions.html
- "The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards" (Desiring God): https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards
- Ligonier Ministries overview: https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/resolutions-jonathan-edwards
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