Finishing the First Week Back
Posted on January 9, 2026 Leave a Comment
“The LORD is my strength and my shield . . .”
Psalm 28:7a (NKJV)
As we wrap up this first full week after the holidays, it’s good to pause and recognize God’s steady help. This week wasn’t about big moments. It was about finding our rhythm again. We focused on showing up and doing the work in front of us.
And God was in all of it.
He gave strength when we felt a little sluggish. He provided focus when we were catching up. He offered grace for the routine tasks that make up most of our days. Finishing this week is a reminder. God meets us not just in the special seasons. He is there in the ordinary ones too.
As we head into the weekend, let’s carry gratitude for His quiet faithfulness. We can also have confidence that He’ll walk with us into next week as well.
Father, thank You for helping me finish this first week back. Thank You for steady strength, clear moments of focus, and Your presence in the routine. Refresh my heart this weekend and prepare me for the week ahead. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Regain Financial Control After Holiday Spending
Posted on January 8, 2026 Leave a Comment
The Christmas season has a way of sweeping us up in generosity, celebration, and—let’s be honest—more spending than we intended. Between gifts, travel, special meals, and last‑minute “why not?” purchases, January can greet us with a financial hangover we didn’t plan for. If you’re staring at credit card statements or feeling the weight of overspending, you’re not alone. The good news is that with a clear plan, you can regain control. With a steady mindset, you can start the new year on solid financial ground.
Allow me to offer the following suggestions. I say again, these are only suggestions:
1. Start With a Clear Picture of What You Owe
It’s tempting to avoid looking at the numbers, but clarity is your friend. Gather all your statements—credit cards, store cards, personal loans—and list:
- Total balance
- Interest rate
- Lowest payment
Seeing everything in one place helps you make informed decisions instead of reacting out of stress or guesswork.
2. Choose a Repayment Strategy That Fits Your Personality
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Two proven techniques stand out:
- The Snowball Method: Pay off the smallest debt first while making least payments on the rest. Each payoff builds momentum and motivation.
- The Avalanche Method: Pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first. This saves the most money long-term.
Pick the method that keeps you consistent. Consistency beats perfection every time.
3. Create a Temporary “Reset Budget”
January is a great time to simplify. For the next 60–90 days, consider trimming non-essential spending:
- Eating out
- Subscription services
- Impulse purchases
- Entertainment splurges
This isn’t about deprivation—it’s about giving yourself breathing room. Even an extra $100–$200 a month toward debt can make a meaningful difference.
4. Look for Quick Wins
Small adjustments can accelerate your progress:
- Sell unused items online
- Take on a short-term side gig
- Use cash-back apps or rewards
- Redirect any unexpected income (tax refunds, bonuses, gifts)
These boosts can help you knock out balances faster without straining your regular budget.
5. Avoid the Shame Spiral
Debt is not a moral failure. It’s a situation—one you can change. Instead of beating yourself up for holiday spending, focus on the steps you’re taking now. Progress is built on grace, honesty, and steady action.
6. Plan Ahead for Next Christmas
Once you’re back on track, consider setting aside a small amount each month for next year’s holiday expenses. Even $25–$50 a month can transform next December from stressful to joyful.
The holidays have left your wallet feeling lighter, but they don’t have to define your financial year. With a thoughtful plan, you can pay down your debt. A hopeful mindset will help you rebuild your confidence. Step into the new year with peace and purpose.
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Grateful for the Work Before Me
Posted on January 8, 2026 Leave a Comment
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
Work can feel routine—same tasks, same pace, same responsibilities. But even in the ordinary rhythm of our jobs, gratitude has a way of opening our eyes. When we thank God for the work before us, our job becomes more than just a task. It becomes something we get to do, not just something we have to do.
A job provides stability, purpose, and a place to use the gifts God has given us. It’s one of the quiet ways He cares for us day after day. And when we approach our work with a thankful heart, even the routine moments become meaningful. Gratitude doesn’t change the tasks—but it changes the spirit with which we do them.
Today, let’s simply thank God for the work in our hands and the strength He gives to do it.
Father, thank You for the job You’ve provided and the daily strength to do it. Help me approach my work with gratitude, purpose, and a heart that honors You in the small things. Guide my attitude, steady my steps, and let Your presence shape my day. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Finding God in Everyday Routines
Posted on January 7, 2026 Leave a Comment
“. . . your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)
Most of life isn’t lived on mountaintops. It’s found in the steady rhythm of ordinary days. We answer emails and show up to meetings. We do the same tasks we did yesterday. We also prepare to do them again tomorrow. It’s easy to wonder if any of it really matters.
But Jesus reminds us that the Father sees what is done “in secret.” This refers to the unseen, uncelebrated, everyday faithfulness. It is the faithfulness that no one else notices. God pays attention to the routine. He values the quiet consistency of a heart that keeps showing up.
The daily grind can feel repetitive, but it’s in those very routines that God shapes us. He forms patience in the slow moments. He develops perseverance in the long ones. He instills humility in the unnoticed ones. He cultivates gratitude in the simple ones. The routine becomes sacred when we remember that God is here in it
- Every task becomes an offering.
- Every conversation becomes an opportunity.
- Every ordinary moment becomes a place where God can work in us and through us.
You don’t need a new season to experience God’s presence. You just need today. The routine you’re stepping into isn’t a burden to endure. It’s a place where God is already waiting. He is ready to meet you with fresh strength and quiet grace.
So as you settle into the rhythm of your work, let this truth anchor you: God sees. God cares. God is here. And your daily faithfulness matters more than you know.
Father, thank You for meeting us in the ordinary rhythms of our work. Help us to see our daily tasks not as meaningless routines but as opportunities to honor You. Give us steady hearts, faithful hands, and a spirit that finds joy in the simple moments. Shape us through the quiet consistency of our days, and let Your presence guide every step. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Hope for the Journey Ahead
Posted on January 6, 2026 Leave a Comment
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
After a week of learning to trust, surrender, and obey, we arrive at a beautiful promise: hope. Not wishful thinking, not vague optimism—biblical hope. Hope rooted in the character of God. Hope that grows as we trust Him, surrender to Him, and walk in obedience with Him.
Hope is the quiet confidence that God is working even when we cannot see it. It’s the assurance that His plans are good, His timing is perfect, and His presence is constant. Hope doesn’t remove challenges, but it reframes them. It reminds us that God is writing a story bigger than our current chapter.
As you close this week, let hope rise in you. Let it steady your heart, lift your perspective, and renew your strength. The God who walked with you this week will walk with you into every tomorrow.
PRAYER:
Gracious God of hope, fill my heart with Your joy and peace. Strengthen my trust and renew my confidence in Your promises. Help me walk into the days ahead with hope that is anchored in You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Graced for the Grind
Posted on January 6, 2026 Leave a Comment
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men”
Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)
The holidays fade, the decorations come down, and suddenly we’re back in the grind. The alarm clock sounds earlier than we’d like. The to‑do list grows faster than we can check things off. The pace picks up, and the ordinary routines of life settle in again.
But here’s the good news: God is just as available in the grind as He is in the glory moments.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us that our work, whether glamorous or unnoticed, can become worship. It doesn’t matter if it’s energizing or exhausting. Our work becomes worship when we offer it to the Lord. The grind isn’t something to escape; it’s something God can inhabit. He meets us in the emails, the errands, and the meetings. He is there in the chores, the caregiving, and the responsibilities that fill our days.
The grind becomes holy ground when we remember who we’re ultimately working for.
And here’s the beautiful part: God doesn’t ask us to power through on our own. He supplies strength for the step we’re on, wisdom for the decisions ahead, and peace for the pressures we carry. The grind is real—but so is His grace.
As you step back into your routines, let this be your quiet resolve:
“Lord, I offer You this day. Let my work honor You. Let my attitude show You. Let my effort point to You.”
When we approach the grind with that posture, the ordinary becomes meaningful. The mundane becomes purposeful. The daily grind becomes a daily opportunity to walk with God.
Father, as we step back into the rhythms of work and responsibility, remind us that You walk with us. You are with us in every task. Help us to work with joy, serve with humility, and carry Your presence into every place we go. Strengthen us when we feel weary. Steady us when we feel overwhelmed. Shape our hearts so that everything we do reflects Your love. Turn our grind into grace-filled moments that honor You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Fresh Mercies for a Fresh Start
Posted on January 5, 2026 Leave a Comment
22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 – (NKJV)
The first days back at work after the New Year can feel like stepping onto a moving treadmill. The inbox is full, the calendar is crowded, and the pace picks up before our hearts have fully caught up. But Scripture reminds us that we don’t step into a new year—or even a new workday—on our own strength. We step into it carried by the fresh mercies of God.
Lamentations was written in a season of deep grief and national upheaval. Yet, right in the middle of the book comes this quiet, steady declaration: God’s mercies are new every morning. Not recycled. Not leftover. New. That means today’s challenges come with today’s grace. Today’s responsibilities come with today’s strength. Today’s uncertainties come with today’s share of God’s faithfulness.
As you return to your routines, remember that God is not asking you to bring the energy of last year. He isn’t asking for the perfection of your best days. He invites you to get what He is already giving. This includes mercy for the moment, strength for the step, and hope for the journey.
So take a breath. Let the noise settle. And start this year not by striving, but by trusting. The God who carried you through the past year is the same God who walks with you into this one. His mercies are already waiting for you at your desk or work station, whatever that be. They wait for you in your meetings and in your conversations. They are there in every unseen moment of your day.
Great is His faithfulness—and great is the grace He has prepared for you today.
Father, thank You for the gift of a new year and the promise of new mercies. As we return to work, steady our hearts, quiet our anxieties, and remind us that we do not walk alone. Fill us with Your strength for today, Your wisdom for each task, and Your grace for every interaction. Help us to work with joy, serve with love, and trust You with the things we can’t control. This year will be marked by Your faithfulness in us and through us. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Embrace God’s Mercies Each Morning
Posted on January 2, 2026 Leave a Comment
“They are new every morning . . .” ~ Lamentations 3:23a (NKJV)
New Year’s Day has come and gone. The fireworks have faded. Resolutions have been made or adjusted. The world has slipped back into its familiar rhythm. There’s something almost sacred about these early days of January—quieter, slower, and honest. The hype is over, and now we’re left with the real work of living out the year we just welcomed.
This is where faith becomes beautifully practical.
Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God’s mercies are “. . . new every morning . . .” Not just on January 1. Not just when we feel motivated. Every single morning of the year. That means the days after New Year’s Day are just as full of God’s presence. They are filled with just as much possibility as the holiday itself.
The truth is, transformation rarely happens in the excitement of a countdown. It happens in the ordinary moments that follow. These include the quiet decisions, the small obedience, and the unseen choices. These are what shape who we are becoming.
Maybe today feels like any other day. The decorations are coming down. The routine is returning. But don’t underestimate these early steps into the year. This is where God begins to weave His new work into the fabric of your everyday life.
So instead of asking, “How long will I keep my resolutions?” try asking:
- Lord, what are You forming in me today?
- What small step of obedience can I take right now?
- How can I stay attentive to Your presence in the ordinary?
The New Year isn’t something we sprint into. It’s something we walk into—one surrendered step at a time.
And the beauty is this: you don’t walk into it alone. The same God who carried you through last year walks beside you now, steady and faithful. His mercies didn’t peak on January 1. They meet you again this morning, and they’ll meet you again tomorrow.
So breathe deeply. Settle your heart. The year has begun, and God is already here.
Prayer
Father, thank You for being here not only on the mountaintop moments. You are also there in the quiet, ordinary days that follow. As we step into this new year one day at a time, help us recognize Your mercies. Help us respond to Your leading. Shape our hearts, guide our steps, and teach us to walk faithfully in the small things. This year unfold under Your grace and in Your strength. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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A Fresh Start With a Faithful God
Posted on January 1, 2026 Leave a Comment
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
New Year’s Day carries a unique quiet. The celebrations have faded, the countdown is over, and the world seems to exhale. It’s the beginning of a brand‑new chapter—2026. We are at the top of it with a mixture of hope. There is also uncertainty and expectation.
But before we rush into plans, goals, or routines, Scripture invites us to pause. It encourages us to remember something deeper: God’s mercies are new every morning. Not just on January 1. Not just when life feels exciting. Every single morning.
That means today isn’t just a new year—it’s a new mercy.
A new chance to trust Him.
A new opportunity to walk in obedience.
A new reminder that His faithfulness didn’t expire at midnight.
Lamentations was written in a season of deep sorrow. Yet, right in the middle of the pain comes this declaration of hope: “Great is Your faithfulness.” Our confidence for the year ahead doesn’t come from our strength. It doesn’t come from our discipline or our resolutions. It comes from the unchanging character of God.
As you step into 2026, consider this:
- You don’t have to carry last year’s failures into this year’s story.
- You don’t have to fear what you can’t see.
- You don’t have to strive to earn God’s love—He has already set His love on you.
The God who was faithful in 2025 is the same God who walks with you into 2026. His mercies are already waiting for you in every month, every challenge, every joy, and every unknown.
So today, instead of trying to predict the year ahead, simply offer God your first “yes” of the year. Yes to His leading. Yes to His timing. Yes to His shaping work in your heart.
A new year is a gift. But a faithful God—that’s the anchor that holds us steady.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of a new year and the promise of new mercies. As we step into 2026, help us release the weight of yesterday and embrace the hope You place before us. Teach us to trust Your faithfulness in every season ahead. Shape our desires, guide our steps, and draw us closer to You each day. This year will be marked by Your presence and our obedience. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Crossing the Threshold
Posted on December 31, 2025 Leave a Comment
“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.” ~ Psalm 65:11 (NKJV)
New Year’s Eve is a threshold—a doorway between what has been and what will be. It’s a moment when the past and the future stand side by side. This invites us to pause and think. We look ahead with faith.
As we stand on this threshold, we carry memories from the year behind us. Some are joyful. Some are painful. Some are still unresolved. Yet through every high and low, one truth remains unshaken: God has been faithful.
Psalm 65:11 reminds us that God crowns the year—not just the good moments, but the entire year—with His goodness. Even in the places we didn’t recognize it at the time, His hand was there. His mercy was there. His sustaining grace was there.
And the same God who carried us through this year is already waiting for us in the next.
New Year’s Eve isn’t just about counting down the minutes. It’s about looking back with gratitude and looking ahead with trust. It’s about releasing what we can’t change and embracing what God is preparing. It’s about remembering that every new year is not simply a reset—it’s a continuation of God’s ongoing work in us.
Tonight, as the clock moves toward midnight, take a moment to breathe deeply and acknowledge God’s presence. Let gratitude rise for the ways He has held you. Let hope rise for the ways He will lead you. And let surrender rise as you place the coming year into His hands.
We don’t step into a new year alone. We step into it with the One who crowns our days with goodness. He leads us on paths that drip with His abundance.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness through this past year. You have carried us, sustained us, and shown us mercy in ways we didn’t always see. As we stand on the edge of a new year, we place our hopes, fears, and plans into Your hands. Crown the coming year with Your goodness. Lead us in Your paths. Shape our hearts to trust You more deeply. We step into the new year with gratitude and expectation, knowing You go before us. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Bob Lankford 