Proactive Pursuit of Growth
By Rooted Africa (@kateyakli)
Jonathan Edwards didn’t just say God’s glory should come first and leave it at that. He knew faithfulness takes work. At nineteen, he made up his mind never to coast or slide into old habits—he wanted to keep pushing for better ways to live out his purpose.
Resolution 2: Resolved, to be continually endeavouring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
It makes sense—once you’ve set your goal, the next thing is to figure out how to reach it. Edwards used “contrivance” to mean thoughtful planning and creativity. He wasn’t chasing newness for the sake of it. He wanted to find real solutions, bust through barriers, and open up new ways to obey. So why does this matter now? It’s easy to get stuck—same prayers, same routines, same service. Consistency is good, but Edwards pushes us: Are you looking for fresh ways to know God better, love Him deeper, and serve others well? You can see this in different parts of life. In your personal time with God, maybe it’s time to try journaling, memorizing Scripture, or reading in a way that actually makes the words come alive. With relationships, maybe you need to listen differently or show kindness in new ways. Even in your work or ministry, learning a new skill or changing up your priorities could make a big difference. It all comes down to being intentional. Edwards didn’t want to drift—he wanted to keep growing. Here’s how you can put Resolution 2 into practice: Ask yourself each week, “What’s one thing I could try now to honour God better?” Try small changes and see what happens. If things feel dull, look for fresh input—a new book, a good conversation, an opportunity you haven’t tried—while keeping your foundation in Scripture. Pray for grace, because real progress and creativity come from God. Think about it: Where have you gotten comfortable or stuck with God? What small step could you take this week to honor Him more? How do you hold onto good habits but also stay open to new ways of obeying? Edwards checked in on his resolutions every week to keep that spark alive. You could do the same—maybe a quick Sunday reflection. Resolution 2 is a reminder that following God’s glory isn’t a passive thing. It takes effort, creativity, and dependence on Him. So—what new idea does this spark for you? Tomorrow, we’ll look at Resolution 3. This is Day 2 in our daily walk through Jonathan Edwards’ 70 Resolutions.
References for Further ReadingIt makes sense—once you’ve set your goal, the next thing is to figure out how to reach it. Edwards used “contrivance” to mean thoughtful planning and creativity. He wasn’t chasing newness for the sake of it. He wanted to find real solutions, bust through barriers, and open up new ways to obey. So why does this matter now? It’s easy to get stuck—same prayers, same routines, same service. Consistency is good, but Edwards pushes us: Are you looking for fresh ways to know God better, love Him deeper, and serve others well? You can see this in different parts of life. In your personal time with God, maybe it’s time to try journaling, memorizing Scripture, or reading in a way that actually makes the words come alive. With relationships, maybe you need to listen differently or show kindness in new ways. Even in your work or ministry, learning a new skill or changing up your priorities could make a big difference. It all comes down to being intentional. Edwards didn’t want to drift—he wanted to keep growing. Here’s how you can put Resolution 2 into practice: Ask yourself each week, “What’s one thing I could try now to honour God better?” Try small changes and see what happens. If things feel dull, look for fresh input—a new book, a good conversation, an opportunity you haven’t tried—while keeping your foundation in Scripture. Pray for grace, because real progress and creativity come from God. Think about it: Where have you gotten comfortable or stuck with God? What small step could you take this week to honor Him more? How do you hold onto good habits but also stay open to new ways of obeying? Edwards checked in on his resolutions every week to keep that spark alive. You could do the same—maybe a quick Sunday reflection. Resolution 2 is a reminder that following God’s glory isn’t a passive thing. It takes effort, creativity, and dependence on Him. So—what new idea does this spark for you? Tomorrow, we’ll look at Resolution 3. This is Day 2 in our daily walk through Jonathan Edwards’ 70 Resolutions.
- The 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
- "The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards" by Stephen Nichols (Ligonier Ministries): https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/resolutions-jonathan-edwards
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