Happy New Year! A new day and a new year! The cool air hit my face as I walked through the neighborhood. There was only a handful of people out at this time of the morning. Others were probably cuddled up in their bed, sleeping off a long night or possibly even a hang-over.
As I walked briskly, I listened to a podcast about "how to get a new you into the new year." The speaker spoke words of wisdom as I soaked in each comment.
I am definitely a person for making plans. My whole life I have always wanted to improve myself. I felt there was more out there and I wanted to achieve all that I could.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What are your plans for 2026?
Proverbs 16:1 states "We may make our plans, but God has the last word." Seek the Lord as you plan for 2026. He will give you the wisdom and insight you need. There is a partnership between you and God. He wants you to seek Him, to use your mind, to learn knowledge from others and to plan. Without planning, you have nothing.
Psalms 139:17 - "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" As you take time to be still and to listen, He will give you a peace of knowing the direction you need to go. Some times we work so hard to make something happen and the situation back fires. Slow and steady is the key.
As you enjoy the solitude, look out at your surroundings. The trees, the birds, the clouds.....as the shepherds and the wisemen seeked Jesus, may you seek Him as well as you navigate through 2026.
You don't need a list of resolutions or purposes, but you do need one thing that ccould make a difference of how 2026 turns out.
Look at the different areas in your life; physical, mentally, emotionally & spiritually.
Losing weight is always on the list. What is your "why" for shedding those pounds? Is it for your health? Is it so you can fix into your clothes? It is for your appearance? You need to understand your why. Health is always a good answer. Take control of your body. Make a difference. To slim up, you could no longer have to be on blood pressure medicine or diabetic medication. Those changes could add years to your life.
Do you need to re-evaluate your relationships? Relationships can be toxic and could affect your health. Most people don't understand, how stress affects all areas of your life. Stress can trigger diseases in your body, which will be a negative turning point into your own life.
Exercise? The gyms should be busy during the month of January. Yes, physical activity does make a difference. Once again, look at your "Why."
As I reflect at my new year, I look at decluttering my life. Decluttering my surroundings. I don't want to feel boxed in. I want to breathe. We all bring clutter into our life. What does decluttering mean to me? Going through my clothes, household items, cluttered drawers.... It means freeing myself to breathe, to be available to others, to not feel pressured by my own surroundings.
What is your spiritual walk? Everyone needs a sense of purpose and a connection to the Almighty. He is there. One needs to take the time in discovering who the Prince of Peace is. Life is simple, we are the ones who make it hard. A good place to start is by reading the Bible. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John are a great place to start.
I could go on and on and on. Locate your quiet place and be still and listen as He speaks. He wants our attention. We just have to be still long enough to hear Him.
As I look at the photo of the sunrise, I know there is an Almighty God. Stop, be still and listen as He whispers.
2026 is waiting for you! Go out and discover what God has planned!
