As January rolls around, it naturally feels like a season of new beginnings, a fresh page on which to write our stories, and an open door to new adventures and meaningful accomplishments. Yet before we rush ahead, it’s important to pause and look back on 2025—to reflect on both the good and the difficult, and to praise God for His many blessings.
For some, this past year brought health challenges, financial strain, devastating news, or the loss of loved ones. Perhaps you’ve experienced grief on multiple levels as life took turns you never saw coming twelve months ago.
For others, 2025 was marked by new family members, personal milestones, hard-earned successes, and countless moments of joy, those mountaintop experiences that fill our hearts with gratitude and contentment.
But whether the year behind you held joy, sorrow, or a mixture of both, take time to look back and see how God’s hand has been at work in your life. Sometimes His presence is unmistakable, such as a miraculous healing or an unexpected breakthrough. Other times it is quieter—a sense of peace, strength for the day, or comfort in the middle of uncertainty. We don’t always recognize these blessings in the moment, but they are there. When we pause to search them out, acknowledge them, and give God the praise, our perspective begins to shift.
I’ve had my own seasons of grief this year, including the loss of a treasured friend, changes in relationships, and unsettling news that brought uncertainty. Yet through it all, God has remained faithful. Even though not every situation has been resolved, He is still in control, and I can trust Him.
As we step into 2026, we don’t know what lies ahead or what circumstances may come our way beyond our control. But there are things we can do to prepare our hearts and minds for whatever surprises the year may bring.
I don’t really care for New Year’s “resolutions,” but I do believe in setting intentions. The beauty of intentions is that they aren’t confined to January 1. They can begin at any point, and if you stumble along the way, you haven’t failed. You simply pick up where you left off and keep moving forward.
Is this the year to become more intentional about your prayer life? Maybe that means reading books on prayer, using a study guide, attending a weekly prayer meeting, or starting a prayer journal.
Is this the year to spend more time in the Word? Perhaps you’d like to read through the Bible, focus on the New Testament, or study just one book more deeply. Maybe it’s time to join a Bible study or even step out and lead one.
What about your sense of community? Have you been delaying joining a small group, volunteering at church, or serving with a local ministry? Do you have a support system in place with people who will walk with you through both calm seasons and storms?
And finally, consider what you’re feeding your mind each day. Is it a constant stream of news and competing worldviews, or is it solid Christian teaching and the truth-filled lyrics of Gospel music that point your heart back to Christ?
2026 is a blank page. While we don’t know what the year will hold, we do know the One who holds it. Nothing takes God by surprise, and we can rest confidently knowing that He is already present in whatever lies ahead.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (The Message)
“God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.”
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NORTH OF 49
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