By Rooted Africa (
Jonathan Edwards had resolved to live in light of how he would wish to have lived at death (Resolution #17) and to speak evil only when truly necessary (Resolution #16). Now he aimed higher: to live consistently at the level of his clearest spiritual moments.
Resolution #18
Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
In simple terms: Edwards resolved to live every day—ordinary moments included—as he would live during his most spiritually alive, devout, and clear-minded times, when the truths of the gospel and eternity felt most real and compelling.
This resolution fights spiritual inconsistency. Edwards knew that devotion ebbs and flows—high moments of clarity give way to dullness. He wanted no gap between his "best" self and his everyday self.Why This Matters TodayWe all have "highs"—times when prayer feels alive, Scripture burns, eternity feels near. Then come the lows—distraction, doubt, routine. Edwards challenges us: Why live below your best spiritual insight? Bring the clarity and fervor of your peak moments into every day.As Psalm 119:97 says: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”Applying Resolution 18 Practically
@kateyakli
)Jonathan Edwards had resolved to live in light of how he would wish to have lived at death (Resolution #17) and to speak evil only when truly necessary (Resolution #16). Now he aimed higher: to live consistently at the level of his clearest spiritual moments.
Resolution #18
Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
In simple terms: Edwards resolved to live every day—ordinary moments included—as he would live during his most spiritually alive, devout, and clear-minded times, when the truths of the gospel and eternity felt most real and compelling.
This resolution fights spiritual inconsistency. Edwards knew that devotion ebbs and flows—high moments of clarity give way to dullness. He wanted no gap between his "best" self and his everyday self.Why This Matters TodayWe all have "highs"—times when prayer feels alive, Scripture burns, eternity feels near. Then come the lows—distraction, doubt, routine. Edwards challenges us: Why live below your best spiritual insight? Bring the clarity and fervor of your peak moments into every day.As Psalm 119:97 says: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”Applying Resolution 18 Practically
- Recall peak moments: Remember a time when God felt near—then ask: “How would I live today if I still felt that way?”
- In routine: Treat ordinary tasks (work, chores, conversations) with the same reverence you have in worship.
- When dullness hits: Deliberately return to gospel truths that once moved you—read them aloud, pray them, act on them.
- Habit: Start each day by recalling a recent "devout frame" and commit to living from that clarity.
- When was the last time my spiritual life felt clearest and most alive? What characterized that season?
- Where do I live below that standard in daily life?
- How can I bridge the gap between my "highs" and my "normals"?
@kateyakli
).We continue tomorrow with Resolution 19.This is Day 18 in our daily series on 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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