As the new year approaches, how are you preparing to experience God in 2026? Meditating on a specific passage of Scripture for the year is a practice that has impacted my walk with the Lord in such a deep way. I hope it will be a blessing to you as well.

All throughout the Bible, we see that God’s presence is meant to be experienced. In considering Christmas, we know that Jesus is the embodiment of God’s presence with us. Now, this Christmas season, are you willing to step out and draw near to God’s presence?

Have you ever doubted God? Have your circumstances led to you questioning His Word, His character or even His existence? How did you feel after those doubtful thoughts? What if our doubts are an opportunity to draw close to God?

Christianity teaches that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by human effort, yet true faith necessarily expresses itself through works empowered by God. Paul holds these together by showing that our striving for holiness is not a means of earning salvation but a Spirit-enabled response to the secure grace we already possess in Christ.

Deep weariness often drives us toward either giving up or pushing harder in self-dependence, but Scripture offers a better way through humble reliance on God’s presence and provision. By looking at Elijah’s exhaustion and Jesus’ faithful obedience, we see that true strength comes not from ourselves but from turning to the Lord, who meets us with sustenance, his Word, and sustaining grace.

While sin once made God’s presence a place of fear and separation, Christ’s sacrifice has brought peace and reconciliation so believers can stand before God with confidence and joy. In contrast to Isaiah 6, the gospel transforms our experience of God’s holiness—from distress and unworthiness to worship, gladness, and childlike belonging.

Over-busyness often stems from pride rather than humility, as we refuse to acknowledge our God-given limitations. Drawing from Acts 6, saying “no” can be an act of faithfulness—allowing us to focus on what God has truly called us to do and resist the prideful desire to be limitless.

While the Christian life is full of joy and hope, it is also intermingled with the brokenness and grief of living a sinful world. So how do we hold both in tension? This is the beauty of lament. We serve a God who hears our cries and wants us to call upon Him in the midst of our deepest sorrow. The prayer of lament leads us through the pain, into deeper assurance and praise, even while we wait for God to work.

The universal missional command we often hear is the Great Commission in Matthew 28. But there’s another missional task that applies to everyone: pray for the nations.

From establishing firm physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries to discerning character, calling, and community, the ultimate destination of dating is not self-fulfillment but the glory of God in Christ.

Psalm 119:23 highlights how the psalmist responds to powerful adversaries not with fear, defensiveness, or aggression, but through meditation on God’s statutes. By grounding oneself in Scripture and embracing the identity of a servant of the Lord, believers find fortification, perspective, and contentment that transcends worldly threats.

If you’re a believer who feels inadequate, be encouraged to share your faith, and remember that God delights in using ordinary, dependent people to accomplish His work. By following Jesus’ simple, relational example, sharing personal stories like the woman at the well, relying on the Spirit’s strength as Peter and John did, and faithfully discipling others as Paul instructed Timothy, anyone can confidently and effectively make disciples.