A Spiritual Beginning of the New Year

January 2, 2026

Where Do We Begin?

Addie, my wife and I just finished celebrating the holiday season beginning with two Thanksgiving's. These started with the Home Fellowship Group of students from Oral Roberts University. This was followed by the big Family Thanksgiving at our home, feeding a lot of people that I will not count.

What followed were literally three Christmases; that began with the church Christmas dinner. Then two family Christmas dinners, starting with my son’s family and their five kids followed by daughter’s family and their three children added to the five. Of course, this precipitated with the opening of the many gifts under the tree. It was a never-ending week long escapade.

It was no less than a “loud house” that we actually welcome every year. We enjoy having a house full of grand-kids, knowing that one day they will mature and become adults and will start taking care of us on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It is like Aunt Tiny, our 91 year-old cousin, who says, her children cook for her now. It’s not because she doesn’t cook, it’s just that they need to fill in sometimes. Dr. Snow one of my mentor professor would say this about family visits and help, "You gotta love those headlights coming and then you gonna love those tail lights leaving!"

Is it Really a Seasonal Break?

It seems that during these seasonal breaks we neglect, to a degree, the spiritual side of our lives. However, I am becoming constantly aware after forty plus years of ministry and being a spiritual contributor in the kingdom of God, we never really stop receiving impartation from the Spirit’s prompting. This is especially true regarding the spiritual things happening in our family. During these visits, we always get fuel for our prayers. We believe the future of all things including family visits loads our prayer armorments, and more so during the holiday breaks.

As another new year begins I want to encourage you to see things regarding the kingdom of God advancing like you have never seen before (Luke 16:16). The kingdom is going forward by what we do as loyal, learning, following disciples of Jesus Christ.

As we pray, prophetically believe that the Spirit and the Church will have a tremendous effect on the world everywhere. Believe for a thrust and advancement in the kingdom of God going forth. Believe that 2026 will have revivals happening everywhere around the world whether people acknowledge Jesus as Lord is not important.

What Does the Text Say?

As I read my biblical text, I am convinced that things in the world are getting darker in every way, (Mat. 24:7-14) and there is a line being drawn between people and nations concerning the increasing level of righteousness and unrighteousness that is permeating the world. As we draw closer to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, one minister bluntly put it as he held out both of his hands; “It’s time that you either get on the right with Jesus Christ or you get left behind with the enemy.”

It’s Time for “The Big Four”

To get right with Jesus, will mean that we need to consciously give up some of the mindless things we do like scrolling through our phones perusing social media and playing mindless games. We need to put our phones down and give ten percent (2 hours & 40 minutes) of our day to God. You can split up your day to accomplish this. Give more time to the spirit which we can even do even on our phones with “The Big Four” practices of:

1. Reading through the Word of God again in 2026, looking for some revelation that you’ve never seen before (Acts 13:15).

2. Praying, giving specific attention regarding the Church, your family, and future of the Kingdom of God (Luke 11:1-13).

3. Fellowshipping deliberately with scheduled meetings with believers in church and in our homes (Acts 2:42; 20:20; Heb. 10:25)

4. Reaching out to a world in desperate need of Jesus Christ. You are making disciples when you volunteer at least once a year to serve dinner at one of the downtown missions. Help stock and give out food at the Church pantry. Give to the person standing on the street corner asking for money, by giving them two dollars with a Word from God or a gospel tract (Mat. 28:18-20).

I’m Over Resolutions

Personally, I’m over “resolutions.” I believe It’s time to open up to a spiritual New-Year. It’s time to get excited about making some big life changes and not resolutions to begin on January 1, 2026. Addie and I have agreed to start a Daniel fast for 21 days in 2026 and get back to going forward, towards a spiritual path that is also our spiritual hope for the future.

How about a New Spiritual Journey and not resolutions for the New Year in 2026. I encourage you to join us in the “The Big Four” practices that we mentioned above. I believe these principles will open a New hope, a New Word and a New Need for connection with the Holy Spirit’s guiding in our lives to a greater walk in the kingdom of God going forward