Can I Have a Word with You in 2026!

Here we are with the first Monday Morning Blog of 2026!

There’s something special about the beginning of a New Year. Some say it seems like January is the longest month of the year, but for me, I cling to every new day of January because the rest of the year flies by so fast. January represents a new fresh start. Many people even set new goals or resolutions like going to the gym, eating healthier, walking more, losing weight, going back to school, or fill in the blank.

A common goal for many Christians is to read the Bible in a year and to select a word to focus on for the year. God’s Word and a personal word. I do both and that’s what I’d like to challenge you with as we kick off this New Year.

Words Matter

Whether written or spoken, words are how we communicate. God created us that way and breathed His Words into His chosen writers to provide us with the timeless inerrant Word of God, the Bible, to communicate with us and guide our life (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Fourteen times in the Bible, the Lord cautions us, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

We should also choose wisely the words we speak, hear, and read. Words can communicate good or evil. They motivate or manipulate. Depict or deceive. Convey truth or lies. Facts or opinions. Help or hurt. Encourage or intimidate. Cheer or criticize.

Here are some examples of how Satan has used words in our current culture for evil.

• Killing a baby in the womb is “reproductive healthcare.”
• Drugging and mutilating children’s sexual body parts is “gender-affirming care.”
• Defining marriage as only between a woman and a man is “homophobic.”
• Same-sex sexual relationships are “gay.”
• Pretending to be the opposite sex is “trans.”
• Men playing in women’s sports is “inclusive.”
• Hiring on basis of skin color and gender is “DEI.”
• Merit is “racist.”
• Masculinity is “toxic.”
• Godless evil is “woke.”
• Incoherent deception is a “word salad.” An example of a deceptive “word salad” was used during the inauguration speech of the new Communist Muslim mayor in New York City, Zohran Mamdani—“We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Anyone calling this out for what it really means—replacing American entrepreneurial freedom of democracy with socialistic dictatorial communism like in Venezuela—is labeled “Islamophobic.”
• Christians crowning themselves as God’s chosen people is “Replacement Theology.”
• The Christian church succumbing to secular culture is “Progressive Christianity.”

I’m sure you could add many more to this list, but often Christians today are afraid to speak truth to lies because they fear the condemnation from man more than from God.

God’s Word Is the Bread of Life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

In discussing John 6:35, our pastor gave the example of only opening your Bible on Sunday and maybe Wednesday night prayer meeting is like only eating a big meal on Sunday and maybe a snack on Wednesday, but no food the rest of the week. Our bodies would physically starve. Likewise, spiritual starvation occurs when we only partake of the Bread of Life, the Word of God, once or twice a week.

It’s hopeful to see many churches and pastors, like our pastor, encouraging their congregations to read the Bible daily in a year, especially this year. Why do I say especially this year? Because the world is getting darker and darker as we approach the return of Jesus, and it’s vital we understand what the Bible says about it.

We’re actually fortunate to live during the birth pangs of the end times. It won’t be scary or intimidating to believers if we have a firm faith foundation and understand God’s plan clearly explained and outlined in the Bible. Something you can’t fully appreciate by just reading a random Scripture. It’s important to see how the Old Testament is the foreshadowing of the New Testament and how all the puzzle pieces fall together in context as you reach Revelation.

The Bible explains and foretells everything we’re encountering in the world today. There’s no reason to fear or worry when you know your role in history and how God wants you to live under all circumstances and in all seasons.

I’ve read the Bible in a year numerous times and I’ve enjoyed reading different translations each year. Many of you have also read the Bible annually, but others might’ve only gotten as far as Lamentations or maybe even Isaiah and then put it aside as life happened. I want to encourage you to read it all the way through this year. We’re only five days in and you can catch up. It is doable. Here are some tips that have helped me.

1. Have a designated time and place where you read your Bible daily and leave your Bible open in that spot.
2. Even if you get behind, don’t lose heart. Catch up on the weekends, but keep going. It will get easier.
3. Use a reading plan. I like YouVersion and CBN, but there are others and maybe your church is suggesting one. Our church handed out a plan for the year reading from the Old Testament and New Testament each day. Others like to include a Psalm or Proverb daily. Just pick one and get started.
4. For the past two years, I’ve listened to the Bible using the CBN yearly plan. I asked for earbuds for my birthday and listen when I’m walking, at the gym, or doing household chores.

It’s popular today to listen to Podcasts and I’m suggesting you listen to Godcast instead! In biblical times, church and temple leaders read the Scriptures from a scroll to the people. People didn’t have personal scrolls like we have personal Bibles today. The Scriptures were passed down by word of mouth and memorization.

If you’re a highlighter or note taker, listening might not be as agreeable to you, but I think you’ll find it’s definitely doable to listen to the Bible in a year. I was out for a walk on December 31, 2025 when I shouted “Hallelujah” as I listened to the last words of Revelation 22 foretelling the return of Jesus.

• Take the Read-the-Bible-in-a-year challenge with a group or a prayer partner so you can encourage and keep each other accountable.
• Don’t spend a lot of time figuring out what to do. Just pick up your Bible and start at Genesis 1:1 and keep reading. God will bless your efforts and time in His Word!

Here’s a portion of a testimony from Janet Marie Watson, an Idaho Facebook friend. She posted this on January 1, 2026, encouraging her friends to read the Bible in a year. Shared with permission.

“Hi everyone. I hope you’re having a good start to 2026. I had to get on social media and say please remember to read your Bible. I have seen it change my heart and it changes my thoughts. Yesterday, I read the last portion of the 365 day Bible reading program I had last year. There is a thing we call discipline but I’m not sure this is as much a discipline as it is a determination. It doesn’t take long with daily portions. I read the whole Bible again. I have such a greater breadth to what I understand about God’s purpose and His larger picture. God has offered this to us as a personal gift.

If I got a personal letter from a great leader, I’d be reading it. I am reminded of 1 John 3:1. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” . . .

So find a program that gives you manageable portions to read each day. This year, I’m going back to one I’ve used before. It’s got a portion from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and the Proverbs for each day. I hope this prevents me from reading the plagues of Revelation the last few days of December. But if not, I’ll be ok. And like I said, it has changed me. The Epistles tell me how to conduct myself. How to temper my heart. And after about 13 yrs of reading the Bible through each year, there are portions that jump into my consciousness when I am tempted to be things I should not be.

What’s Your Word for 2026?

Starting in 2018, I began praying for God to give me a word for the year. A word that would glorify Him and transform me into the woman He wanted me to be. A word to guide my personal interactions, my writing, my thinking, and my spiritual growth. Not an easy word or one I was already good at, but one that would challenge me and cause me to delve deeper into my heart and soul seeking God’s help to live out.

For example, I’ve never been a patient person so one year I chose the word “grace.” I wanted to be more grace-filled and less self-filled. A friend gave me a cross necklace with the word “grace” on it. I wore that necklace daily. Grace was such a difficult word for me that I actually kept it for two-years, but I haven’t mastered it yet. I still wear the necklace.

As I was praying about my 2026 word, I read James 1:3-4 NLT in the closing days of my 2025 devotional. “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

That word “endurance” struck a chord in my heart. My husband Dave had three major surgeries within a year. I became his patient advocate, caregiver, and maintainer of our home. There were times I didn’t think I had the energy or stamina to keep going, but God and love help you do what you think you can’t do. My endurance was tested, but God and love kept me going. I want endurance to come easier in 2026. While I almost chose “love” as my word, I realized that love fuels endurance so love will grow as I seek to endure well.

How about you?

 Do you choose a word for the year and a Scripture to go along with it?

Are you going to read or listen to the entire Bible this year?

What worldly words are you going to stop using or stop letting influence your thinking and emotions?

I’d love to hear your answers. Just hit reply and share.

PS: January 2025, I shared that I was praying every morning with Pastor Jack Hibbs’ 5:00 AM PT Lift Scripture Prayer time. He recorded daily on Facebook Live, YouTube, and several other places so you could listen anytime and leave prayer requests while praying for others. I only missed a couple mornings all year.

Pastor Hibbs felt the Lord leading him to do this for only one year, but one of the daily prayer partners who he called “Mr. Faithful,” James Choy, is carrying on the Morning Prayer time for 2026. You can find him @ 5AMBondservant on Facebook and Instagram if you would like to join us praying every morning. You’ll be blessed for sure.

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