Embracing New Beginnings in 2026

Spring, in my opinion, really is the best time to start fresh. The weather is warmer, the trees are budding, and honestly, my energy seems to soar compared to the dullness of winter. Yet, here we are, with January 1st approaching quickly. Just a few days into the new year, and it feels right to make some changes.

The goal is to prioritize your daily engagement with God, treating it as an essential commitment. It’s vital—no going back on that promise.

Let’s explore some ways to enhance your connection with creators in 2026. Because, in all honesty, that should be at the top of our priority list.

So, how do we go about this? Some fundamentals remain constant. God has provided us guidance, so diving into His Word should be paramount. This includes:

• Reading the Bible individually.
• Engaging with others while reading the Bible.
• Studying the Bible solo.
• Studying it in a group.
• Memorizing scripture alone (though it’s great to have others join you, this is often a personal endeavor).
• Exploring what others have written about the Bible.
• Listening to or watching teachings on the Bible, with a preference for weekly sermons by your pastor. A fantastic resource is John MacArthur’s extensive sermon collection.

Along with immersing ourselves in Scripture and absorbing what God is conveying to us, we must seek His presence. Worship, gratitude in prayer, and sharing our thoughts—big or small—are essential practices.

I find myself returning to these two core actions.

Prayer and the Word.

Morning Routine

This idea, which I stumbled upon on Substack, took me quite by surprise. Honestly, with flexible work hours, the day can slip away faster than you’d expect, making time management crucial. We’re squandering our precious time!

So, consider scheduling your daily encounters with God as a non-negotiable commitment. You can pick any time, but mornings usually work best. These sessions can vary in length based on your current life stage, though setting a clear start and end time is beneficial (and you can always adjust later).

Meetings need an agenda. You could either draft a general outline for all sessions or create specific agendas for each day. Currently, I’m working on a broad plan but allowing myself some flexibility on the details. My agenda generally includes:

1. Bible Reading Time

No, I won’t wrap this up in a year. I have a three-year reading plan. It’s crucial to savor the text rather than rush through it to “check it off.”

I utilized Biblereadingplangenerator.com to design a format that aligns with my preferences—arranging the Bible chronologically, interweaving prophets with Old Testament sections and placing New Testament letters in the order they were composed.

I’ve set aside Psalms and Proverbs so I can read them at a pace of one chapter daily; I’m realizing the depth and wisdom they offer benefits from a slower approach.

Moreover, this three-year plan allows me the time to reflect on my study notes and consult other commentaries.

Lastly, I want to read books that delve into the topics of the portions of the Bible I’ve completed.

2. Daily Bible Portions

The terminology could be fancier, but it’s important to spend some time with each book of the Bible while also regularly exploring different sections. Here’s my weekly breakdown:

• Monday – Torah/Old Testament History (Genesis to Song of Solomon, excluding Psalms and Proverbs since they’re part of daily reading)
• Tuesday – Old Testament Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi)
• Wednesday – Gospels
• Thursday – Acts
• Friday – Paul’s Letters
• Saturday – Other Letters
• Sunday – Revelation

Keep in mind that my primary focus will be the Old Testament for at least the next two years as I give attention to the New Testament.

3. Devotional Time

If you have a devotional practice, this is the place for it.

4. Memorization

This year, I’m trying something different! I want to commit to memorizing significant portions of Scripture. I’m beginning with a small book about Judas that addresses false teachings. I believe it’ll be pertinent in 2026.

Before starting memorization, I plan to study a few verses at a time. This will be a group effort with a couple of friends, so at least two of us will work on it.

5. Additional Reading and Training

There are numerous spiritually enriching books I’ve yet to read. I think this is an excellent opportunity to go through my extensive “to-read” list. Or perhaps watch some instructional videos I’ve saved. The apologetics series from Stand to Reason is truly wonderful.

6. Time in Prayer

We wholeheartedly accept God’s invitation to come before Him in prayer.

For years, I’ve tried to organize my prayers by making lists and focusing on different needs on specific days. However, I’ve never kept a prayer journal. I’m genuinely excited about starting one now—this five-year prayer journal allows me to document daily prayers, revisit them in subsequent years, and reflect on how my perspectives have changed.

I’m eager to witness how God acts in my life as I revisit my past prayers.

Final Thoughts

This is the morning routine I envision for 2026. I plan to dedicate several hours each day to it. At this stage in my life, I can devote more time to this fulfilling journey, and the anticipation is palpable.

As the new year begins, there truly is nothing more significant to strive for in 2026 than spending time with God.

A happy New Year to all, centered in God!