Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV — You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Reflect over our week together on the topic of new beginnings. Has God revealed an area of your life in which He is working on a new beginning? Are you open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead you in your new beginning? Examine where you have been, where you are, and where you are headed. What steps do you need to take to be totally surrendered to God’s will for you in your new beginning?
Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to receive Your message for me. Guide and direct me as I surrender my will and accept Your will. Lead me toward Your new beginning for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV — You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
One of the most known stories of redemption and new beginnings is the story in the Bible of Saul who later became known as Paul who Julie and I shared about several weeks ago. Take a few moments to reacquaint yourself with the story of his conversion in this short video titled Saul To Paul by Chuck Knows Church.
Did you learn something new about Paul? He certainly embraced and lived out the concept of today’s featured scripture by forgetting his former way of life and putting on his new self. He truly had a new beginning which even included being called a new name. Did your revelation of Jesus Christ spark a new beginning for you? Reconnect with your conversion story and examine your response. Is it time for you to have another new beginning in Christ? Are you allowing God to produce new fruit through you?
Let’s pray. Thank You God for new beginnings in Christ. Forgive me for times I forget my new self in You. Help me to refocus my attention and guide me to point my life in Your direction. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT — Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Not only do Julie and I choose a word of the year, but we also choose a phrase or mantra that encapsulates our focus. As we have shared, Julie, Ray, and I have been reading The Bible Recap this year. The Bible Recap is a guided reading plan to read the Bible in a year. During the weeks I was praying about my word and mantra for 2026 we were reading the books of the Bible written by Paul. I have truly enjoyed learning more about Paul. He is the inspiration for my mantra for 2026: Be bold.
Part of today’s featured scripture, Isaiah 40:31, is my life verse. The New Living Translation uses the word trust. In order for me to be bold, I must trust in the Lord. He will give me the strength and the stamina I need to step out in faith and soar with the eagles.
What will be your focus for 2026? Do you have a phrase or mantra that you will focus on to help you stay Christ-centered? We would love to hear from you and pray for you.
Join me in prayer. Dear God, help me to stay focused on You. Give me the courage, strength, and stamina to be bold for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
As Julie and I have shared over the last few weeks, instead of making a New Year’s resolution, we choose a word to focus on throughout the year. In 2025 I chose two words that coincide together: peace and joy. Joy comes through peace.
Julie and I have found that whatever word or words God lays on our heart to focus on is usually an area that we will be tested. As a result, we must lean into our word of the year and truly focus on it to strengthen us through trials and troubles. This idea held true for me in 2025 as me and my family faced many difficulties. Midway through the year I caught myself spiraling into a cycle of worry. Needless to say, my peace and joy were on shaky ground. Thankfully I wasn’t in this spiral long before God brought it to my attention during my prayer and devotion time one morning. The Holy Spirit led me to understand that after all the speaking and writing I have done about my faith, now I must truly live out my faith. Having faith means I must trust God and by trusting God I would have peace and joy.
In the latter part of 2025 I have been praying about my word for 2026. I felt God was still asking me to focus on trust but I needed to be sure. In November I began using a new journal a friend gave me last Christmas to write my prayers and gratitudes each morning. On November 22, 2025 God confirmed that trust would be my word for 2026. As I turned to a new page I discovered a special inserted page with a scripture written on it.
Romans 15:13 NIV — May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
There it was, a God wink found in an unexpected page in my journal. There was my confirmation in a scripture that contained my words from last year and my word for the new year. WOW! Go God!
What word is God laying on your heart to focus on in 2026? We would love to hear from you and be in prayer with you for your new year.
Join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for God winks and confirmations. May I keep my heart open to the guidance of Your Holy Spirit as You lead me into a new year. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
This week Julie and I will be sharing our words of the year as well as our mantras to focus on in 2026. Read and meditate on the following scriptures that are the basis of our focus.
Romans 15:13 NIV — May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT — Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Hebrews 12:11 ESV — For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Welcome to the last Sunday of 2025. As we look toward a new year, spend some time thinking about your focus for 2026. Listen to the words from the following songs as you ponder.
Today I am sitting in a room that is dark except for the glow of lights shining from our Christmas tree and the candle burning beside me. I am savoring the memories we have created this Christmas season and am so thankful for the time to slow down and refocus. I am savoring special church services, time with friends and family, and the excitement of Christmas through the eyes of children. I pray that you have had the opportunity to reflect on Christmas memories as well as create new Christmas memories. While I am savoring this time, I also realize the Christmas season may hold sadness for some. Some may be missing loved ones and some may be experiencing hardships that squelch joy. For those that find this time hard to savor, I pray a special blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 NIV — The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. No matter your circumstances today, I pray you can take a moment to listen to this musical version of Numbers 6:24-26 by Elevation Worship featuring Kari Jobe titled The Blessing. May you find comfort and peace as you reflect and may you find joy in Christ to savor today.
