Tomorrow is Another Day

Closing scene of Gone with the Wind

Scarlett O’Hara’s closing soliloquy in Gone with the Wind has been resonating in my head since awakening yesterday morning: “After all, tomorrow is another day.” She was quite right! There is always tomorrow—any procrastinator will tell you that!

But, perhaps these words are echoing in my head because everywhere I turn these days I hear about or read comments, even exciting how-to suggestions, on facing my tomorrows—especially when one of those tomorrows is the beginning of a New Year! It seems that the natural thing to do is to make resolutions that will improve one’s life, an idea supported by the statement I read recently: “It’s the time of year when we pause, reflect and resolve to make some changes.”

Considering my January 2016 blog confession— “… I did determine, privately, to make a greater effort to follow through on some good intentions…”— I am a little reluctant about a year-end review, about giving ‘pause’ and  reflecting on what happened over these past 365 days with my good intentions. Was I successful? Did I follow through with my list? I’m not talking about my plan to watch less TV or be more faithful at going to the gym or make a better effort to maintain a healthier diet. I’m talking about my plan to be more intentional about my relationship with God. And, admittedly, I had some good days and some not-so-good days.

Jonathan Edwards, a revivalist preacher, philosopher, and a Puritan prefaced his list of seventy Resolutions* by penning: “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, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.” He then gave himself a reminder: “Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.”

‘Seventy’ is a big number, so I’ve chosen to focus on one (being very conscious of the other sixty-nine):

# 28
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently,
as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

I believe that being faithful in studying God’s Word is the cornerstone in one’s walk with God. For me, the driving force is found in Philippians 3:10 (a): “I want to know Christ…” and I can’t think of a better way than studying God’s Word and approaching Him in fervent prayer!

My daughter gave me a book for Christmas entitled, The Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions.  I have chosen to share portions of the prayer entitled, New Year (p. 112), and I offer it to you as you face the tomorrows of 2017.

O LORD,
Length of day does not profit me
except the days are passed in thy presence,
in thy service, to thy glory.
…

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee, O Holy Spirit filling my sails.
…
Give me thy grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to teach,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy and contented 2017!

*The complete list of Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions can be found by googling Resolutions  by Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University.