It’s hard to believe that we are now in 2026. It is during these beginning days of January when many will vow to turn over a new leaf; to begin doing something different than they did in 2025. Whether it is a resolution to eat healthier, exercise more, spend more intentional family time, make it a priority to read their Bible every day etc., many will begin this year ready to do whatever it takes to see their plan accomplished.
I hate to be a “downer” on this fifth day of January, but we all know that by February, many will have given up on their resolution. Many will decide that eating healthier food is just too expensive or takes too much time to prepare. Quite a few will come to the realization that exercising on a regular basis doesn’t seem nearly as much fun as it did today. Some will discover that spending more time with their family causes more stress than they thought it would and that going out with their friends is much more relaxing. And unfortunately, there will be those who decide that hitting the snooze button two more times sounds much more enjoyable than beginning their day with their Savior.
I was thinking about this the other day and I’ll be honest, I felt myself getting depressed. The reason was that I was thinking about some of the things that I need to change in 2026, but if I’m honest, I know I can easily be just like all the others who will give up within a few weeks. Oh, my intentions are good, but my self-discipline is lacking and when the going gets tough…it’s easy for me to just quit going. So, if I know that I will likely give up on my resolution(s), maybe I just shouldn’t make any at all.
Then I came across the words found in Philippians 4:9. The apostle Paul wrote these words in his letter to the leaders of the church in Philippi: “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” WOW. I had to ask myself if I could write those same words in a letter to those I wanted to encourage and help in their walk with Christ. Would I be confident enough in my behavior…in my walk with Christ…to ask others to emulate me? I’m afraid my answer would have to be NO.
Paul not only told them to put into practice what they heard him say…but also what they saw him doing. How often do I say what I know God wants me to say…but then not walk the talk? It’s one thing to speak words, but living out those words is often so much more difficult.
Notice then what he ends with, “Then the God of peace will be with you.” Again, WOW. If those who are reading this letter follow the instructions Paul has given them, along with watching how he has lived his life…they will then have peace. Because Paul lived the life of a fully, devoted follower of Christ…others were able to learn from him and as a result, had peace in their lives.
This got me thinking. Maybe God doesn’t want me to make a list of resolutions for 2026, maybe He just wants me to ask myself if I’m speaking and living in a way that encourages others to follow Him. Maybe He wants me to be more intentional with the words I speak and the actions I display on a daily basis. Maybe He wants me to ask myself before I speak or act, if what I’m about to say or do will draw others closer to Him or drive them farther away.
We are living in a world where many people do not have peace. They live every day with their stomach in knots…their mind racing…with an overall feeling of despair. How amazing it would be if in 2026, they could find the God of peace by listening to what I say and watching how I live my life. I know that will only happen if I am intentional on being a fully devoted follower of Christ.
Elisabeth Elliot said, “This year, let us ask God to dissolve all our hopes into a single hope to know Christ and be found in Him. May this be a year to desire a radically transformed, deeper, truer, knowing of Christ as our all-sufficient One”. I realize that if I really take this seriously…if I make this my focus in 2026…I believe that everything else will fall in place. If my only hope for the coming months is to know my Jesus more so that my words and actions can be radically transformed to look more like Him, my year is bound to be more than I could ever imagine.
I really don’t want 2026 to be just another year. I want it to be a year in which how I live has a positive impact on eternity. But I know I will have to be intentional in making sure my hope is to know my Jesus and be found in Him.
How about you? What is your Savior asking of you for this coming year? If you aren’t sure, maybe you would like to join me and together we can ask God to dissolve all our hopes into a single hope. A hope to know Him so deeply, that our speech and actions will influence others to find peace in Christ. I’m guessing that if this is our prayer, we will discover that He is definitely our “all-sufficient One”.
“I pray that God, the source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace
because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
