#jonathanedwards

-Jonathan Edwards

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Jonathan Edwards 

Why Most Goals Fail It’s easy to get swept up in the New Year energy. New journals. Fresh planners. Clean slates. We tell ourselves, “This year will be different.”But by February, many of our best intentions quietly disappear. Why? Because most goals, no matter how sincere, are built on the wrong foundation. The Real Reason Goals Fail Most resolutions aim at behavior change without addressing heart change. We try to fix our habits without examining our affections. We want different outcomes without identifying our underlying idols. Jesus warned against this kind of shallow reform. In Luke 6:43–45, He explained: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit… for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” In other words: The fruit of our lives grows out of the root of our hearts. If you want lasting change, it must begin deep within. Biblical Change is Inside-Out, Not Outside-In In Romans 12:1–2, Paul urges believers to present their lives to God as living sacrifices, not by external conformity, but through internal transformation: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…" The Greek word metamorphoo (translated “transformed”) describes a radical inner change, not a superficial adjustment. You can download apps, change diets, and join gyms, but if your mind is not being renewed and your heart not reshaped, real transformation will not last. Jonathan Edwards Understood This Jonathan Edwards, one of the most spiritually intentional men in church history, was not merely interested in external morality. As a young man, he wrote a list of 70 deeply spiritual commitments, not as legalistic rules, but as reflections of a heart burning to glorify God. He resolved, for example: “Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.” Edwards didn’t start with a to-do list. He started with a surrendered heart. That’s the difference. His intentionality flowed from worship, not willpower. His resolutions were Godward, not self-centered. He saw that spiritual vitality isn’t about behavior management but soul realignment. We do not need more goals. We need more of God. Three Reasons You Must Start With the Heart 1. Your Heart Directs Your Desires Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Our words, emotions, reactions, and pursuits all stem from what we treasure most. If you’ve been aiming at behavior modification without addressing your deepest affections, the change won’t hold. Ask yourself: - What am I loving most right now? - What am I fearing or running from? - What am I hoping will finally satisfy me? 2. Your Habits Follow Your Beliefs Behind every repeated pattern is a belief system. We procrastinate because we believe there's more time. And we overcommit because we believe our worth is tied to achievement. We avoid conflict because we believe peace is found in comfort. Romans 12 calls us to “renew our minds” so that we can “test and approve what is the will of God.” That means replacing distorted thinking with biblical truth, because what we believe shapes what we do. 3. Your Fruit Reveals Your Root Back to Luke 6:45, Jesus teaches that the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. That means the impatience, anger, comparison, pride, or anxiety we see in ourselves is not the problem; it’s the symptom. Real sanctification happens when we stop hacking at the branches and start dealing with the root. A Tool to Go Deeper: Heart-Level Journaling This year, before setting another goal, pause to consider what is driving it. That’s why I created a simple worksheet:“The Heart Behind the Habit: A Guide to Gospel-Aligned Goals.” This downloadable guide will help you: - Identify motivations beneath your goals - Recognize spiritual obstacles and false beliefs - Align your desires with Gospel truth - Create a renewal plan rooted in Scripture and grace 📥 Download the Worksheet Here Consider These Heart-Journaling Prompts: Take a few quiet minutes to write answers to these questions: - What am I currently craving, fearing, or trusting in? - How am I defining success, and is that shaped more by the world or by God’s Word? - What emotions tend to derail my growth, and what truths counter them? - How have I tried to change in the past without including God? - What is one area where I need not just new habits, but a new heart? Join a Community That Starts with the Heart In the Navigator Level of our Lessons for Life Community, we go deeper than productivity tips and motivational quotes. We walk with you through biblical emotional growth, spiritual reflection, and practical application of God’s Word in your inner life. - Free to join - Heart-level conversations - Gospel-based resources - Encouraging community Take your next step today:https://community.jameslongjr.org/getting-started Final Thought If you want to change your life, you must let God change your heart. Goals grounded in grace are more than wishes; they become acts of worship. So before you revise your plans, re-center your heart. Ask God to search you, shape you, and lead you in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23–24). This year, do not skip the most important part. The fruit may be visible, but the battle is always in the root. Read the full article

Resolved, Not Just Resolutions: Cultivating a Heart-Driven Commitment to Change As the calendar flips to a new year, many people resolve to make resolutions. “I’m going to lose weight.”“I’ll save more money.”“I’m finally going to get organized.” Sound familiar? Yet year after year, the pattern repeats. By February, most resolutions have quietly faded. Studies consistently show that the vast majority of New Year’s resolutions fail within weeks. Why? Because resolutions are often driven by emotion, pressure, or guilt, rather than deep conviction and spiritual transformation. That is why I want to challenge you this year to aim higher. Not just resolutions, but resolves. 1. From Resolutions to Resolve: What’s the Difference? A resolution is often a wish or seasonal commitment. It tends to focus on outward behavior without addressing inward belief. A resolve, on the other hand, is a settled, prayerful commitment. It is rooted in conviction. It flows from a clear understanding of who God is, who we are, and why we were created. Jonathan Edwards, one of the most influential pastors and theologians in American history, famously wrote 70 Resolutions before the age of 20. He prefaced them with these words: “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions…” That is resolve.Not superficial self‑help.Not trendy self‑improvement.But grace‑dependent, Spirit‑empowered intention. 2. Real Change Requires a Heart Shift Scripture repeatedly teaches that transformation must begin within. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”— Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) Many people fail in their goals because they are trying to change from the outside in. They attempt to fix habits without examining the heart. But the Bible is clear: behavior flows from belief, and actions flow from affections. Your heart includes your thoughts, desires, intentions, fears, and loves. If these are not shaped by God’s truth, even the most sincere resolution will eventually collapse. The Gospel does not call us to behavior modification.It calls us to surrender, renewal, and transformation. 3. Surface Goals vs. Soul Goals One helpful way to evaluate your goals is to ask whether they are merely surface‑level or genuinely heart‑level. Ask yourself: - What do I desire that competes with my desire for God? - Where am I trying to fix an outward problem without addressing an inward issue? - What idols: approval, control, comfort, success, may be shaping my goals? - How is the Gospel good news to this area of struggle? When you ask these questions, goals begin to change. Instead of saying,“I want to stop yelling at my kids,” you begin to say,“I want to become a parent who responds with patience and grace, because that reflects God’s character and draws my children toward Christ.” That is the difference between resolution and resolve. 4. Embrace a Gospel Framework for Change Lasting change is not achieved by sheer willpower. It is sustained by the Gospel. Here is a simple, biblical framework I often use in counseling and coaching: - I can’t. (Romans 7:18) - He can. (2 Peter 1:3) - He has. (Romans 6:6–7) - He does. (Galatians 2:20) - He will. (Philippians 1:6) - I can—only in Him. (John 15:5) Resolve becomes powerful not because you are strong, but because God is faithful. 5. Practical Steps to Cultivate Godly Resolve If you want to grow true resolve this year, begin here: - Reflect – Spend time in prayer and the Word. Ask God to expose misplaced desires. - Repent – Turn from false motives, self‑reliance, and shallow ambitions. - Renew – Meditate on God’s promises and purposes for your life. - Resolve – Write down specific, grace‑anchored commitments, just as Edwards did. - Repeat – Revisit and refine your resolves throughout the year. Resolve is not a one‑time decision. It is a posture of daily dependence. Call to Action As this new year unfolds, do not settle for empty resolutions.Pursue resolve, a Spirit‑empowered, Scripture‑shaped commitment to inside‑out change. If you have not dnoe so, read the first article in this series: https://jameslongjr.org/resolved-how-to-set-goals-that-actually-matter-in-the-new-year/ Take ten minutes today to journal: - Where do I need more than a resolution, I need resolve? - What biblical truths must anchor that commitment? Coming tomorrow: We will explore how to write SMARTER goals that align with your biblical resolves and help you pursue lasting change with clarity and structure. Start Here: A Gentle First Step Toward Biblical Encouragement Looking for a gentle first step into biblical emotional support and spiritual encouragement? The Navigator Level is perfect for you. This free community space offers a no-pressure environment where you can explore Gospel-based discussions, request prayer, and engage in uplifting conversations—all at your own pace. Whether you're seeking encouragement or just beginning your journey toward emotional and spiritual health, you're welcome here. You can even join anonymously.Join Free Today Ready to Go Deeper This Year? Visit JamesLongJr.org and join the Lessons for Life Membership for deeper coaching, practical tools, and a community committed to lasting change through the Gospel. Read the full article

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