God is Doing Something New: Prepare for the New Year
Posted on December 30, 2025 Leave a Comment
“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” ~ Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)
As the New Year approaches, something stirs in us. Even if we don’t make resolutions, we feel the pull of a fresh start. A turning of the page. A sense that God is inviting us into something deeper, something new.
But here’s the truth: the power of a New Year isn’t found in the calendar changing. It’s found in our willingness to say yes to God again.
Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is always doing something new. Not just once a year. Not just when life feels exciting. Even now—right here, in the in‑between days—He is working beneath the surface. He is preparing new paths. He is creating new mercies and new opportunities for growth.
The question isn’t whether God is doing something new.
The question is whether we’re paying attention.
As we stand on the edge of a new year, this is a sacred moment to pause and ask:
- Lord, what new thing are You wanting to grow in me?
- What old thing are You inviting me to release?
- Where do You want my next “yes”?
Maybe it’s a deeper trust.
Maybe it’s a step of obedience you’ve delayed.
Maybe it’s healing you’ve avoided.
Maybe it’s joy you’ve forgotten how to get.
Whatever it is, God isn’t asking you to fix yourself before January 1. He’s simply asking for your heart—open, willing, surrendered.
The New Year isn’t about becoming a new person.
It’s about becoming the person God has been shaping all along.
So as the countdown approaches, don’t rush past this moment. Let your heart grow quiet enough to perceive the new thing God is already bringing to life. And step into the coming year with a simple, powerful prayer: “Lord, my answer is yes.”
Prayer
Father, thank You for being the God who makes all things new. As we approach a fresh year, please quiet our hearts. We want to perceive the new work You are doing in us. Give us courage to release what no longer belongs and faith to embrace what You are calling us toward. Shape our desires, guide our steps, and fill us with expectancy for the year ahead. Our answer is yes to You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Embrace Transition: Spiritual Reflections Before New Year
Posted on December 29, 2025 Leave a Comment
Two days before the New Year is an interesting place to stand. It’s not quite the celebration. It’s not quite the reset. It’s not quite the reflection point we often reserve for the final hours of December 31. It’s an in‑between space—a quiet threshold where the noise hasn’t yet begun, and the old year hasn’t fully let go. And if we’re willing, this moment can become one of the most spiritually meaningful of all.
Most people rush through these final days with a checklist. They finish the leftovers, put away the decorations, and return the gifts that didn’t fit. They also make resolutions that may or may not survive until February. But what if these two days before the New Year are actually an invitation? A gentle nudge from God to slow down, breathe deeply, and pay attention.
There’s something sacred about standing on the edge of a transition. Scripture is full of moments where God meets people in between seasons. Moses stood between Egypt and the Promised Land. Elijah moved from despair to renewal. The disciples transformed from fear to boldness. God often speaks most clearly when life is quiet enough for us to hear Him.
So what God is whispering to you in these final hours of the year?
Maybe He’s inviting you to release something you’ve been carrying far too long. A disappointment. A fear. A regret that has taken up more space in your heart than it deserves.
Maybe He’s nudging you to remember His faithfulness. This isn’t in a vague, general way. It’s in the specific, personal ways He showed up for you this year. The prayers He answered. The strength He gave. The moments you didn’t think you’d make it through, but you did.
Or maybe He’s simply reminding you that you don’t walk into the New Year alone. You don’t have to manufacture hope or muster courage. The same God carried you through every high and low of this year. He will walk with you into the next.
Two days before the New Year is a perfect time to pause and ask three simple questions:
- What do I need to release?
- What do I need to remember?
- What do I need to receive from God as I step forward?
You don’t need fireworks or resolutions to begin again. You just need a willing heart and a few quiet moments with the One who makes all things new.
As the calendar turns, may you step into the coming year not with pressure, but with peace. Enter not with fear, but with faith. Approach not with striving, but with surrender.
The New Year is coming. But today, right here in this quiet space, God is already at work.
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Back to the Grind, But Not the Same
Posted on December 29, 2025 Leave a Comment
“So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” ~ Psalm 90:13 (NKJV)
Christmas has a way of slowing us down. For a moment, the world feels softer. We breathe a little deeper. We remember what matters. But then December 26 arrives, and life starts tugging us back into the grind—emails, errands, responsibilities, routines. The quiet glow of Christmas can fade faster than we’d like.
But what if getting “back to the grind” didn’t mean going back to normal? What if the days after Christmas are actually one of the most spiritually strategic moments of the year?
Psalm 90:12 reminds us that wisdom grows when we pay attention to our days. We should acknowledge not just the holy days, but the ordinary ones too. The days filled with laundry, work, conversations, and choices. These days shape us just as much as Christmas morning.
As we move toward the New Year, we have a choice:
We can slide back into old rhythms…
Or we can carry the wonder of Christ’s coming into the everyday grind.
The shepherds didn’t stay at the manger. They returned to their fields—but Scripture says they went back “glorifying and praising God.” Same fields. Same sheep. Same responsibilities. But not the same hearts.
That’s our invitation today.
Let the joy of Christ reshape how you step back into your routine.
Let the peace of Christ steady you as you face unfinished tasks.
Let the presence of Christ remind you that no day is “ordinary” when He walks with you.
Before the New Year arrives, ask the Lord to help you number these last few days of 2025 with intention. Not rushing. Not drifting. But living awake—grateful, purposeful, and grounded in Him.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the beauty and wonder of Christmas. As we step back into our daily routines, help us not to lose what You stirred in our hearts. Teach us to number our days with wisdom. Help us carry Your peace into our work, Your joy into our responsibilities, and Your presence into every moment. Shape our steps as we move toward a new year. We return to our “fields” glorifying and praising You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Meaningful Reflection: Day After Christmas
Posted on December 26, 2025 Leave a Comment
“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
(NKJV)
The day after Christmas often feels like a strange pause. The wrapping paper is gone, the carols fade, and the excitement of gifts and gatherings gives way to quiet. For many, it’s a day of rest; for others, it’s a return to routine. Yet spiritually, the day after Christmas holds profound meaning.
Think of Mary. After the shepherds left, after the angelic chorus had stilled, she sat in the quiet and pondered. The miracle had happened—Christ was born—but life didn’t suddenly become easy. There were still diapers to change, meals to prepare, and the looming reality of raising the Son of God. The glory of Christmas didn’t erase the ordinary; it infused it with eternal significance.
The day after Christmas reminds us that the incarnation isn’t just a one-day celebration. It’s the beginning of a lifelong journey of treasuring Christ in the ordinary moments. The shepherds returned to their flocks, but they carried the memory of the Savior with them. Mary returned to daily life, but she carried the wonder in her heart.
Christmas is not meant to be packed away with the decorations. The day after Christmas is a call to live with the same awe, gratitude, and joy we felt yesterday—only now woven into the fabric of everyday life.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You that You are not just the Savior of Christmas Day but of every day. Help me to treasure You in my heart like Mary and to carry the joy of Your presence into the ordinary rhythms of life. May I live as one who has seen Your glory, sharing Your love with others even when the celebrations fade. Teach me to abide in You, to walk with You, and to remember that the miracle of Your birth changes everything—not just yesterday, but today and forever. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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Embracing the Light of Christmas
Posted on December 25, 2025 Leave a Comment
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be upon his shoulder: and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6
(NKJV)
Christmas is more than lights, gifts, and traditions—it is the celebration of God stepping into our world. The birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of centuries of promises, the dawn of hope in the midst of darkness. Isaiah reminds us that this child is not ordinary. He is the Wonderful Counselor who guides us. He is the Mighty God who saves us. He is the Everlasting Father who loves us. He is the Prince of Peace who calms our restless hearts.
On Christmas morning, we pause to remember. The manger was not the end of the story. It was the beginning of redemption.
Imagine a candle in a dark room. At first, the darkness feels overwhelming, but when the candle is lit, the smallest flame pushes back the shadows. That’s what Christ’s birth did for the world. The light of Jesus pierced the darkness of sin and despair, and that light has never gone out.
One candle can ignite another. Similarly, the light of Christ spreads through us when we share His love. We do this by extending kindness and peace to others.
- Receive the gift: Christmas is about receiving Christ Himself, not just celebrating His birth.
- Reflect His light: Ask yourself, “Where can I bring Christ’s peace today?” Maybe it’s in your family, workplace, or community.
- Rest in His promises: The titles Isaiah gives remind us that Jesus is enough for every need. This includes guidance, strength, love, and peace.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, on this Christmas Day we thank You for coming into our world as the Light in the darkness. You are our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Help us to receive You fully, reflect Your love to those around us, and rest in the hope You bring. May our lives shine with Your light today and always. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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When Heaven Burst Into Song!
Posted on December 24, 2025 Leave a Comment
Christmas has a way of slowing us down long enough to remember what truly matters. Lights glow softly, familiar carols fill the air, and something in our hearts leans toward wonder. But even the most beautiful Christmas moments we experience today are only faint echoes of a night long ago. Heaven itself broke open with praise that night. Luke 2:13 tells us:
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God.” (Luke 2:13)
(NKJV)
One moment, the shepherds were standing in a quiet field under a dark sky. The next, the ordinary was swallowed up by the extraordinary. Heaven can’t stay silent. The birth of Jesus demanded a response so glorious that an entire host of angels filled the night with worship.
The angels didn’t go to kings or scholars. They appeared to shepherds—men out in the country, unnoticed by society, yet fully seen by God. This is the heart of Christmas: God comes close to the humble, the weary, the overlooked, the ordinary.
The heavenly host didn’t arrive with a whisper. They arrived with a sudden eruption of praise. The word “host” refers to an army—yet this army didn’t come to wage war, but to announce peace. Their message was simple, powerful, and world‑changing in v. 14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…”
Christmas is God declaring peace over a world that desperately needs it.
The shepherds weren’t expecting anything unusual that night. They were simply doing their jobs, watching their flocks, living their everyday lives. And that’s often how God works. He steps into the ordinary moments with extraordinary grace.
Christmas reminds us that God still breaks into our darkness with light. He still interrupts fear with hope. He still meets us where we are, not where we think we should be.
Luke 2:13 is more than a historical moment—it’s a spiritual pattern. When Jesus enters the scene, praise follows. When Christ draws near, heaven rejoices. And when we make room for Him in our hearts, something in us begins to sing too.
The angels’ praise wasn’t just a celebration—it was an invitation. They were announcing a Savior not just for the shepherds, but for all people. For you. For me. For every heart longing for peace, forgiveness, and hope.
This Christmas, the question isn’t whether heaven is still singing. It’s whether we will join the song.
- Will we pause long enough to marvel at the miracle of God becoming flesh
- Will we allow the peace of Christ to quiet our anxious thoughts?
- Will we let gratitude rise in us like a chorus?
- Will we carry the message of hope into a world still longing for light?
The angels praised because the Savior had come. We praise because the Savior still reigns.
Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus. He is the Light who breaks into our darkness. He is the Savior who brings peace to our hearts. As the angels filled the sky with praise, fill our hearts with the same wonder and worship. Help us slow down long enough to see Your glory in this season. Let the message of Christmas—hope, peace, and joy—take root in us and overflow to those around us. Draw us closer to You, and let our lives echo the angels’ song: Glory to God in the highest. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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Opening the Gift on Christmas Eve
Posted on December 24, 2025 Leave a Comment
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
(NKJV)
Christmas Eve is filled with anticipation–families gather, lights glow, and hearts wait for the joy of Christmas morning. But tonight reminds us of the greatest anticipation in history: the world waiting for a Savior. And that Savior came as a gift–Jesus Christ.
Picture a beautifully wrapped gift under the tree. Everyone knows it’s there, but until it’s opened, its value isn’t experienced.
God’s gift of Jesus was given over 2,000 years ago, but many still leave it unopened. Tonight, as we celebrate Christmas Eve, let’s make sure we’ve received the gift that changes everything.
- The gift was promised: For centuries, people longed for he Messiah. Christmas Eve marks the night before the promise was fulfilled.
- The gift was personal: “Born to you.” This isn’t just a historical event–it’s for you.
- The gift brings peace: In a world of chaos, Jesus brings hope, forgiveness, and eternal life
Unlike earthly gifts, this one never fades. It’s eternal, priceless, and offered freely.
- Have I truly received the gift of Jesus?
- How can I share this gift with someone tonight?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. On this Christmas Eve, help me pause and remember that Your love is the reason we celebrate. Fill my heart with gratitude and peace, and let me share Your gift with others. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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The Greatest Gift of Christmas
Posted on December 23, 2025 Leave a Comment
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
(NKJV)
Christmas is full of gifts–wrapped boxes, surprises, and joy. But the greatest gift isn’t found under the tree. It is found in a manger: Jesus Christ.
Imagine a child on Christmas morning. They tear open the wrapping paper, eyes wide open with excitement. But what if the gift was left unopened? It wouldn’t bring joy or fulfill its purpose.
God’s gift of Jesus is like that–offered freely, but it must be received. Don’t leave the greatest gift unopened this Christmas.
- God’s gift cost Him everything. He gave His Son.
- It was given out of love. Not because we earned it, but because He loved us.
- It meets our deepest need. Forgiveness, hope, eternal life.
Unlike earthly gifts, God’s gift never fades or breaks. It’s eternal and personal–meant for you.
- Am I more focused on presents than His presence?
- How can I share this gift today?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the gift of Jesus. Help me to treasure Him above all else and share His love with others. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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Peace
Posted on December 22, 2025 Leave a Comment
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
(NKJV)
Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ. His peace surpasses understanding—it calms our hearts even when storms rage around us. Jesus promised His peace to His followers, a peace the world cannot give.
Cultivate peace by surrendering worries to God in prayer. When anxiety rises, remember His promise to guard your heart. Be a peacemaker in your relationships, reflecting Christ’s peace to others.
Prayer
Lord, let Your peace rule in my heart. Guard my mind from fear and anxiety. Help me bring peace into my home, workplace, and community, pointing others to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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Is My Faith Strong Enough Today?
Posted on December 19, 2025 Leave a Comment
Every believer faces moments when the question rises quietly but persistently in the heart: “Is my faith strong enough today?” It’s a vulnerable question—one that reveals both our wish to trust God and our awareness of our own limitations. The truth is, faith isn’t measured by how confident we feel, but by the One we place our confidence in.
Jesus once said in Matthew 17:20:
“. . . If you have faith as a mustard seed . . . nothing will be impossible for you.”
(NKJV)
A mustard seed is tiny—barely visible between your fingers. Yet Jesus chose that image intentionally. He wasn’t asking us to have massive, impressive faith. He was inviting us to bring whatever faith we have, even if it feels small, shaky, or tired.
Some days faith feels strong. Other days it feels like a flickering candle in the wind. But Scripture never tells us to evaluate our faith by emotion. Instead, it points us toward the direction of our trust. Psalm 56:3 says:
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
(NKJV)
Notice the psalmist doesn’t say, “When I am afraid, I muster up more faith.” He simply chooses where to place his fear, his uncertainty, and his hope.
Faith is not the absence of fear. Faith is choosing God in the presence of fear.
We often imagine faith as something we either have or don’t have. But the Bible paints a different picture—faith is something that grows, stretches, and matures over time. James 1:3 reminds us:
“. . . the testing of your faith produces patience.”
(NKJV)
The very moments when you wonder if your faith is strong enough are significant. These are often the moments God is strengthening it.
Think about Peter walking on water. His faith was strong enough to step out of the boat, but not strong enough to keep him from sinking. Yet Jesus didn’t shame him. He reached out, lifted him up, and walked with him back to the boat. Peter’s faith wasn’t perfect, but it was real—and Jesus honored it.
So how do you know if your faith is strong enough today?
- If you’re turning to God—even with questions—your faith is strong enough.
- If you’re praying—even with doubt—your faith is strong enough.
- If you’re opening Scripture—even when you feel dry—your faith is strong enough.
- If you’re choosing obedience—even when it’s hard—your faith is strong enough.
Faith doesn’t have to roar. Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it limps. Sometimes it simply holds on. But faith that holds on is still faith.
One of the most comforting prayers in the Bible comes from a desperate father who cried out to Jesus in Mark 9:24:
“. . . Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
(NKJV)
Jesus didn’t reject him for having mixed emotions. He honored the man’s honesty and responded with compassion.
If you feel like your faith is a mixture of belief and uncertainty today, you’re in good company. God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for surrender.
A Closing Thought
Your faith doesn’t have to be flawless to be real. It doesn’t have to be loud to be heard. It doesn’t have to be strong to be accepted. It simply has to be offered.
And when you offer it—no matter how small, yet fragile—God receives it, strengthens it, and uses it.
Your faith is strong enough today because God is strong enough today.
Father, today I bring You the faith I have—whether it feels strong or small. Strengthen my trust in You and steady my heart when doubts rise. Help me remember that You are faithful even when I feel uncertain. Teach me to lean on Your strength, not my own, and to walk with confidence knowing You are with me. Grow my faith day by day, and draw me closer to You in every moment. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
Bob Lankford 