As the new year starts, it’s always pretty inevitable that you start to see lots of people with new years resolutions. I instantly thought about what the most common ones were – and weight loss seemed to top my list of what I thought most people might want.

Statista listed a few that I thought I could lump together as one, but what I found most interesting was that 43% of people that they interviewed don’t make them. Granted, there aren’t that many that took the survey (1,050 and only the US responded for a couple of weeks). But, if this is representative of the whole, this is vanity at best. I know. “Kristin, don’t judge. The Bible says not to judge.”

Technically, no, that’s not what it says. But, you’re right. It is not about judging vanity versus not mostly because I have always made these same type of resolutions. As I’m getting older (and now going through cancer stuff), I find myself in a different boat now. It isn’t about losing weight or saving money. Those are always nice, yes. But, money and a size 5 pants isn’t going to save me. Jesus is going to save me. Period.

Then I see the resolutions to “Read more Scripture.” That’s a good one for me. “Pray more often” is another good one for me. “Remember to thank God daily” is another one I like. As I started digging into my resolutions, what I noticed was that it wasn’t really one specific thing, but more that I desired deeper closeness with God. There are several ways to do that – prayer, reading Scripture, daily quiet time. If you’re the reading type, find a site like Christianbook that sells books you might like and start reading. If you get more from writing/reading blogs, find an author you like, start reading and/or writing (look up a site like WordPress or Blogger).

What I have found is that by just taking time, God gets more clear to hear. It’s not that He’s louder or shouts at me more, but I can see Him in the little things. I notice the places where He’s gone before me and I hear Him when He tells me to do something. It’s not like some audible voice in my head, but it’s this knowing that you are being told to do something. It isn’t a conscience. It’s not a guilty feeling (that’s the devil, y’all). It is not a cloud shaped into an object that I can “read.” You know when He’s talking to you though. You know when He’s tapping your shoulder and pushing you in a different direction.

For years, I’ve fought this urge to write. I like to write, but sitting down and putting words to paper is really difficult. It is more difficult to get past my own vanity of not feeling like I sound like a complete baboon when I write. Putting words out there into the ether is taking a chance. Who reads it? Is anyone actually reading it? Why don’t people comment? Is this just being ignored? Is anyone benefiting from it? Why should I keep writing? Who is this for? Why am I doing it? Am I just blindly saying “yes” to something that feels like I should do it? Then there’s the doubt:

But, what if it doesn’t sound “perfect?” What if it sounds like a child wrote it? What if no one buys it? What if it’s never used? What if someone picks it apart? What if I have misspoken? What if I hurt someone along the way? I should just keep my mouth shut. I should not take a chance on hurting myself or anyone else.

That whole block is the angry little fire breathing gnat on the other shoulder.

So, friend: What now?

What is your resolution? What are you resolving to do this year? Breaking it down, what are you resolving to do next month, next week, or even tomorrow?

Mine is more simple: Just talk to Jesus more – and be more willing to put the words on paper He wants me to share. Whatever that means – and however hard they are. Not everything needs to be shock and awe. It doesn’t need a cliffhanger or a climax. I’m not writing a murder mystery or telling a Sherlock story with some insane plot twist. I’m just talking to Jesus – and I’ll share that along the way.

Brandon Lake wrote a great song called Talking to Jesus. If you haven’t heard it, check it out below. It’s just a great reminder that we influence generations down the road just by talking to Jesus. He’s not out of reach for us. He’s there – He’s listening. It doesn’t have to be some fancy prayer. You don’t have to say all the right words. God knows your heart. Just open your heart to Him.