Last night my husband, daughter-in-law, and I were talking about New Years Resolutions.
“I make New Years resolutions every year and follow them for about four days,” Katie said. “Then another week goes by and I often forgot I made them!”
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| Photo by Jessica McCollam www.jessicasvisionsphotography.com |
I can 100% understand that!
Today as I think about New Years Resolutions a few things are on my mind. First, is my “word of the year.” Every year–for the past six years–I’ve prayed and asked God to give me a word of the year. As I prayed about it over the last month I feel the word He’s given me is “Listen.” A few things came to mind as this word resonated in my heart.
1. Listen to the Holy Spirit. I can make a lot of plans and get wrapped up in a lot of ideas, but listening to the Holy Spirit makes all the difference. I don’t want my plans to succeed. I want God’s plans for my life–my world–to succeed through me. This only happens through reading His Word and the still, small voice that stirs when I do.
2. Listen to those closest to me. With eleven people in our house it’s easy to drown out the noise. I desire to take time to listen to those who I love the most. This means being available and asking leading questions in order to understand another’s heart.
3. Listen to people’s stories–people God brings into my life. All of my books involve discovering the “truth” in people’s stories and either weaving them into fiction or organizing it in non-fiction in a way that will help readers. God continues to bring amazing people into my life. Their stories can not only impact my books, but also touch the hearts of my readers.
4. Listen to my readers. I do what I do because of YOU, and I’m working to be more aware of what YOU care about most. To me, Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. isn’t just a way to tell you what’s happening in my life–but to hear what’s happening in yours. I truly want to know. I truly want to write books that you’ll enjoy, be inspired by, and want to share!
Second, make them happen.
Those are great resolutions, right? By they truly won’t make a difference unless I seek solutions to follow through. For me, nothing happens unless it’s in iCal, so that’s what I did. I scheduled time each day to LISTEN TO GOD. I usually have daily quiet time, but it’s a gentle reminder that He comes first.
I also set weekly appointments to LISTEN. Listen to my husband, my family, people I interview and my readers. Hopefully these appointments will give me pause each day to put some solutions to my resolutions.
Now, how about you?
Hmm. Good, timely post. So little real listening happens anymore. How many times have I been at a meeting or at dinner at a restaurant and while people are talking, everybody’s checking their phones, texting, whatever. . . “I’m listening. . . .” But we’re not.
I’m going to think about this post a lot today. Thanks.
Great post, and timely too!
I am particularly intrigued by the idea of having one word for the whole year, instead of making a New Year’s resolution. I think I’d try it, and ask the Lord for one word to focus upon this year.
Thank you so much!!!
With every blessing