We walk in small worlds. We all tend to move through life with eyes that only extend out to the edges of our own little worlds. We don’t mean to only see so far. We want to have hearts that take in the hurts, wounds, and troubles of others, but our own struggles take on a life of their own and keep us tightly focused.

Kindness is an innocuous word in our society. It is a nice thing to extend to animals and small children. Kindness doesn’t get much attention. It is seen as something pleasant to do or be if you can, but it will get you run over if you go too far.

God’s kindness is not just a pleasant gesture. It is an extension of His grace, an element of His love, and evidence of His faithfulness. His kindness is an incredibly powerful force. Because it is a part of His character, God calls for it to be abundant in the hearts of His people.

In kindness, we notice. We see another’s heart. We pay attention, and see what is in someone’s eyes or below the surface in their hearts. In seeing them, we give them room to grow, learn, love, and hurt. When we are kind, we help someone breathe in grace.

We are all struggling. We all wrestle with fears, doubts, worries, and anxieties. We all have baggage. Some of us try to hide it. Others try decorating it, advertising it, or burying it. But Plato is right. Everyone you meet today is fighting some kind of battle. You may not see it, or ever know what it is, but the battle is still there. Being kind gives them a chance to glimpse God on the battlefield.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be kind. I am going to be deliberate about looking in the eyes of the people I meet today. I am going to pay attention to the opportunities I have to extend a little grace, offer some hope, and do something kind. Kindness never seems like a big deal to the one offering it, but to the one who receives it, it is something extraordinary.

We slowly rebuilt every part of the room. We installed a new shower, refinished the cabinets, and put up sheetrock. Friends came over to lend their expertise. The kids got a first-hand experience in demolition and construction, and we all grew to appreciate the luxury of having more than one working bathroom for a family of five.

Finally we were ready to move on to the finishing touches. We picked out paint and chose trim to make it all look warm and inviting. Looking at the blank sheetrock reminded me of Deuteronomy 6:9, where Moses instructs the people to write God’s Word on the doorframes of their houses. That gave me the idea. I gave each child a marker and asked them to write their favorite Bible verse on the wall. I explained that it would all be covered with paint and by the trim, but we would always know that it was there.

Wide-eyed and wondering about mom’s sudden leniency toward writing on the walls, my kids stepped into the bathroom. They each took a turn writing God’s Word in the room. My husband and I added our own verses, and we all crowded into the bathroom to take a look. Scriptures about love, grace, transformation, and courage covered the walls.

We painted and finished out the room. Covering each word made us smile. We were embedding it in the framework of our house. We prayed that each time one of our children went into the bathroom, they would think about the words that they had written on the walls, and write them once again on their hearts.

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11.

My Jesus Resolution today is to write His Word on my heart. I want His Word to leave an indelible mark on my life. I want it etched into the core of who I am. I want it to be so much a part of who I am that it is written into the framework of my being. When we hide His Word in our lives, it grows and blossoms. It stretches us as it expands our souls. It sends its roots down deep, displacing the old and securing the new. Today I am going start with one verse, and write it in big, bold letters on the wall of my heart.

Jobs are about more than the need to make money. While that is important, God knows that our jobs shape and define our identity in significant ways. We invest a great deal of ourselves in where we work. From the beginning, God gave Adam work to do because He created us with the need to make a difference in our world.

Our workplace becomes a focal point for living out our faith. These people see us five days a week. They notice our integrity, watch how we make decisions, pay attention to the way we treat others, and see how we handle the ups and downs of everyday life. They watch how we spend our money, where we invest our time, and whether our actions live out our words. Our jobs become stages on which we live out our resolution to be like Jesus.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24.

My Jesus Resolution today is to remember who my real boss is. Jesus calls me to be like Him in every part of my work day. He wants me to reflect His character in the way I treat others, whether it is an executive or the janitor. He directs me to do everything without grumbling or complaining. Instead, I am to keep my eyes open for His presence and seek His guidance. He wants to influence the way I talk in the break room, how I use my time, and the manner in which I respect those in authority. Today I am going to go to work with Jesus.

Moses uses this time, as they stand poised on the brink of receiving the fullness of God’s blessings, to remind them of the importance of living out all of the words of God. He gives them a unique instruction meant to create a visual picture of their hearts.

“And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. And you shall write on them all the words of this law…” –Deuteronomy 27:2-3

Can you see it? Stone after stone set up in the land, each one covered with the Word of God. Each rock stands as a memorial to the place of God in the land and in their lives. As the Israelites enter Canaan, they are to engrave His law on the land just like the Word is to be engraved on their hearts.

What if the bricks of our houses were covered with writing proclaiming the name of the Lord? What if our walls were full of His words? What if everywhere we walked held a reminder of who God is and who He calls us to be? This is exactly what are lives are supposed to be. We are meant to be walking testimonies to His Word. Our lives are designed to display His glory. Our hearts are to be frames for His goodness. His Word should flow out of our mouths, our actions, our attitudes, our motives, our direction, our praise, and our focus.

My Jesus Resolution today is to write. I want to write God’s Word all over my life. I want to fill my heart, saturate my soul, and flood my heart with it. I want to set His Word in a place in my life where others can see it, read it, and be drawn to the cross. Today I am going to find a small stone and write the name of Jesus on it. It will help remind me that I want God’s Word to be so prominent in my life that the first thing someone notices about me is Jesus.

God makes it simple. His directions are clear, His purpose is direct, and His intent is understandable. Here is a sample: Be mine. Love each other. Serve gladly. Be humble. Worship Me only. Tell the truth. Follow Me. Obey. Trust. Listen. Wait. Be still. Shine. Tell others. Pray.

Simple doesn’t mean easy, but it does mean doable. God clears the way, and very simply directs our hearts deeper into His presence. He wants us to understand His will, and be confident about what makes Him smile. We tend to complicate it so that we can measure our performance, mark our worth, or make ourselves look good. Too many times, we just want the grey area that complicated brings to the picture.

My Jesus Resolution today is to keep it simple. I am going to remember that God wants me to follow Him. There are no confusing road signs, double blind curves, or concealed traps on the way into His presence. He doesn’t have a hidden agenda or ulterior motive. He just wants me to love Him. He has made that has simple as He can. Everything He wants me to do, everything He wants me to be, and everywhere He wants me to go can be summed up in three simple words – Look Like Jesus.

Pride is a funny thing. We think of a larger-than-life swagger, hogging the spotlight, and big boasts as the stuff pride is made of. And sometimes it is. But the heart of pride is the need to see myself as just a little bit better than you. Almost without realizing it, we constantly measure ourselves against each other. How do I rank? Am I better or worse? Can they see my faults? Inevitably we find someone about whom we finally breathe a sigh of relief. At least I’m not like them….and pride scores a point.

Here is the deal. Pride will always have a hold on my heart if I measure myself against you. Jesus is the standard. He is the measure of all things that are true, holy, right, and just. It doesn’t matter what you have done. It doesn’t matter what I have done. We all need grace. I can try to justify my lying, rationalize my boasting, or excuse my unkindness, but in the end, I am no better or worse than you and your sin. We are all in the same boat. We need a Savior who will cover us both with His mercy and love.

My Jesus Resolution today is to remember my own deep need for grace. I don’t want to be filled with pride. I want praise to flow from my interactions with others. Instead of silently comparing myself to someone else, I am going to talk about the ways that God is at work in both of us. I want to see the opportunities to extend grace, demonstrate mercy, exercise love, and spotlight compassion. Pride has “I” in the middle. Jesus is all about “us.”

Such a simple gesture, and yet the impact was profound. Taking a few minutes to say thank you and telling someone how they look like Jesus for you has the power to lift hearts, open eyes, ignite praise, and activate smiles. Here are ten ideas for people who could use your thanks today.

1. A young mom who makes the effort to bring her little ones to church, even when they are cranky and she is tired.

2. An older person whose life is a shining example of Jesus.

3. Your spouse.

4. Your minister’s wife.

5. The church secretary.

6. Your child’s Bible Class teacher.

7. A missionary.

8. Your best friend.

9. Your kids.

10. The person who most looks like Jesus for you.

My Jesus Resolution today is to say thank you. God uses special people in my life every day to remind me of His love, to offer me encouragement, to help me laugh, to teach me His lessons, and to open my eyes to His presence. I don’t say thank you to Him or them often enough. Today I am going to find somebody to thank. I am going to tell God how grateful I am for His gift, and let someone know how God has used them to touch my heart.

My daughter had a terrible day. She called in tears, overwhelmed by the struggles that had swamped her day. Technical difficulties were causing great stress. The phone call she had been waiting for didn’t come. The new assignment was tougher than she imagined. She didn’t get her first, second, or even third choice. She needed help, and people were rude. She had a raging headache, and couldn’t see past the clouds. It broke my heart to hear her tears. It was an I Love You day.

It doesn’t matter what kind of day you are having today. God says that today is an I Love You day. He loves you on your good days, terrible days, and the I-can’t-figure-it-out days. It doesn’t matter if you have all the answers, make the wrong choice, or are not sure of the questions. He loves you. His love for you is not dependent on your ability, good looks, smarts, checkbook balance, or the number of good things you do in a day. He loves you because you belong to Him. Good days or bad days will always find you at the center of His heart.

My Jesus Resolution today is to remember that today is an I Love You day. No matter what happens today, I can be sure that God loves me. He is very close to me, whether circumstances make it easy to see Him or not. He is working on me, using every situation, every decision, and every smile or tear, to help me look more like Jesus. Knowing that it is an I Love You day should change the way I walk through my day, talk to the people I meet, and face the challenges that are ahead. But even if it doesn’t, even if I mess it up, it will still be an I Love You day.

As the ark began to take shape, you could feel the anticipation rising with the kids’ excitement. Here come the animals! Two by two, they crossed their imaginations as they pictured lions, bears, ostriches, and ladybugs marching into the ark. The rain began to fall, and children held their breath as lightning revealed the providence of God.

After a long forty days and forty nights, the rain ceases and the waiting begins. Even here, the children listen as the adults around the room trace God’s hand and point to His grace. Finally the rainbow arcs across the sky. Its colors making a promise we can still see today.

The story of Noah is filled with powerful lessons, but it was the hearts around the tables that spoke to me today. Adults giving up an afternoon to show kids how amazing God really is. Children willing to set down their video controllers to participate in the greatest story ever told. God at work in every heart as each one opens His Word and listens.

My Jesus Resolution today is to invest. I want to invest myself in God’s Word. I don’t just want to read the story. I long to experience His presence. I want to invest myself in people who will help me see God’s hand and live out His purpose. I am going to invest in someone who is just beginning the journey, and watch their wonder as they see God for the first time. God gave everything in order to invest in me. I am going to invest my heart in Him.

Socrates has looked at my calendar.

Busyness seems to define who we are.  Every single person I know will say that they are busy. Busyness is the badge of productivity. We fill our planners, make our lists, stretch our time, and run on empty. Our society tells us that the busier you are, the more important you are. The more layers of inaccessibility we wrap around us, the more value we have. Busyness can become a mask that hides the emptiness of our hearts.

We let busyness set the perspective for our lives. I am not busier than anyone else. I have the same-sized plate as you do. It is filled with the same mix of family, job, laundry, bills, and service as your plate. But busyness seems to give us permission to take a myopic view of the world. It lets us turn inward, look at the world through the lens of selfishness, and pass by on the other side.

Jesus came so that we might have rich, abundant, full, overflowing, blessed, connected lives. Busyness has the potential to rob us of the blessings God has in store for us. There is nothing wrong with being busy, unless that busyness steals the abundance Jesus died to give us. From the very beginning, God built in a rhythm of work and rest into creation. Our bodies are designed to move from activity to stillness each day. Our souls are created to mirror that balance of movement and quiet.

My Jesus Resolution today is to choose blessing over busyness. That might mean stopping in the middle of my day in order to hear His still, small voice. It might mean asking for help or saying no. It might mean that others will see me in my vulnerability rather than the “have it all together” mode I usually like to display. Mostly, it will mean taking Jesus up on His promise. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29.