(Dec. 6, 1849)

“I do promise, my God helping:
Firstly, that I will rise every morning sufficiently early (say twenty minutes before seven o’clock) to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than five, in private prayer.

Secondly, that I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

Thirdly, that I will endeavour in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of the bleeding Lamb, and, by serious conversation and warning, endeavour to lead them to think of their immortal souls.

Fourthly, that I will not read less than four chapters in God’s Word every day.

Fifthly, that I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart, and leave providential events with God.

Sixthly, that I will read this over every day or at least twice a week. God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love to the Redeemer of the world. Amen and Amen.

—William Booth

I feel my own weakness, and without God’s help I shall not keep these resolutions a day. The Lord have mercy on my guilty soul.”

William Barclay comments on the above:

1. Begin the day with God.

2. Avoid gossip.

3. Be a witness and missionary for Christ.

4. Study the Word of God.

5. a) Keep Growing—the New Testament word for sanctification is hagiasmos. All Greek nouns which end in -asmos describe a process; and sanctification is “the road to holiness.” b) Don’t Worry—We have to leave the providential ordering of things to God. All that worry does is to unfit us to deal with a situation when it actually comes. In any event, God can give us the strength to deal with any situation when it does come.

6. Renew your resolutions every day.

First published in Cornerstone (ISSN 0275-2743), Vol. 29, Issue 119 (2000), p. 21
© 2000 Cornerstone Communications, Inc.
Electronic version may contain minor changes and corrections from printed version.