Yesterday (December 30), I wrote about New Year’s Resolutions (“New Year’s Resolutions: How Do You Want Your 2026 to Be?”). I focused specifically on reading Scripture as a daily practice, but I closed with the thought that each of us should keep “pressing on” as Paul challenges us in Philippians 3. So what are some specific ways to “press on” and enhance your faith journey in 2026?
Enhance Your Journey Through Scripture Reading
As I discussed in yesterday’s post, I think it’s important to spend time in Scripture as regularly as possible. Now, it shouldn’t turn into a legalistic thing; there will be days when life intrudes and the time just isn’t there. But that should be the exception rather than the rule. If we’re serious about following Jesus, we should take advantage of the gifts that God has given us – His written Word and His Holy Spirit. When we come to God’s Word and intentionally open ourselves to the Spirit’s direction, God will reveal Himself to us.
I don’t have anything against devotional books, but I believe that we need more than just a few verses and someone else’s observations each day to feed our souls. I strongly believe in the importance of reading Scripture in context – the way that it was originally written and preserved for us. If we believe that “all Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16), then we shouldn’t limit ourselves to small pieces and familiar passages. That’s why I recommend the book Divine Mentor, and the system it presents for daily reflection on Scripture. But however you do it, make Scripture reading a regular part of your journey!
Enhance Your Journey Through Prayer
Jesus modeled prayer for us, and taught us to pray. If it was important for Him to spend time in prayer regularly, how much more important is it for us!
But we need to remember a couple of important aspects of prayer. First, prayer is both individual and corporate. Each of us should pray, and all of us should gather with other believers to pray., The Bible reflects that both types of prayer are important. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged us to “go into our closet and pray” away from others (Matthew 6:6). But He also said that when two or three of us agree in prayer, God answers (Matthew 18:19). I don’t pretend to fully understand what He meant by that, but it certainly means something. And if Jesus encouraged us to pray, both together and alone, then we should do it!
The other thing to keep in mind is that prayer is more than just “talking” to God. Prayer is a conversation, and conversation involves both speaking and listening. I submit that powerful pray-ers are not those who can keep talking to God for extended periods of time, but those who can still themselves and listen to God as well as talking to Him. This listening to God goes hand in hand with our immersion in Scripture; God often reminds us of what His Word says when He is “talking” to us.
Enhance Your Journey Through Corporate Worship
“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am” (Matthew 18:20). This promise follows immediately after Jesus’ comment about agreeing together in prayer, and that makes sense. One of Jesus’ purposes is to make us one; He prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:22). How can we be one if we don’t regularly gather together as His followers?
From the earliest days of the Church, believers gathered together regularly. Acts 2:42-47 tells us that the believers met together daily for prayer, worship, instruction, and fellowship. The writer of Hebrews challenged his readers to not forsake gathering together (Hebrews 10:25). When we come together to worship, we encourage each other, and God blesses us with His presence.
One other aspect of corporate worship is often overlooked. When God’s people come together to worship Him, it bears witness to the world that God is at work. Corporate worship is a visible demonstration of our faith in God. It tells people that we honor God with our time and our presence, and that we do it joyfully. If you find it challenging to gather regularly for worship, I encourage you to stop viewing it as an obligation. Instead, think of it as a gift from God, that He uses to bless and strengthen us.
Enhance Your Journey Through Service
When we think about the night of Jesus’ betrayal, we usually think of Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper. But in John 13, Jesus also instituted another practice for us: He washed the disciples’ feet. Peter objected, but Jesus told him that being served was a core part of the kingdom. He then told His disciples: “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are correct, for so I am. So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you would do just as I did for you” (John 13:12-15).
Earlier in His ministry, Jesus’ disciples argued among themselves about which one of them was most important. (This actually happened more than once.) He told them that the rulers of the Gentiles “lord it over them,” but that it should not be that way among His disciples. “Whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).
So serving is an important way for us to reflect the presence of Christ in us. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that God created us for good works – not to earn our salvation, but to reflect what God is doing in us. If God is forming us in the image of Jesus, then we should reflect His image by serving others, just as He did.
Giving – Developing a Generous Spirit
I’d suggest that the subject of giving is probably the most polarizing aspect of Christian experience. The same day that I started working on this article, I saw a post on social media claiming that any pastors who talk about tithing are manipulating their congregations and misinterpreting Scripture. Suffice it to say that I disagree with that perspective. Scripture clearly talks about God’s people giving back to Him the “tithe” (ten percent of their income). That practice predates the Mosaic law; Abraham did it with Melchizedek in Genesis 14.
But even if you disagree with my understanding of the Biblical concept of tithing, there is no question that giving is a core teaching of Scripture. We give out of gratitude for what God has done for us. We give as a way to demonstrate our love for others. An we give as an expression of our trust in God, that He who has given us everything we have will continue to supply all that we need.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). If we believe that, we also recognize that God will sometimes call us to give back what He has given to us. Sometimes, that means giving to the Church; other times, God calls us to give in other ways. And giving is not limited just to money; it includes everything that God has entrusted to us. What is most important is not the amount, but our attitude. “For God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Develop A Positive Outlook
It may seem strange to include a call to a positive outlook in a list that also talks about giving, prayer, worship, and the like. But Scripture teaches that our attitude is just as important as every other part of our being. And contrary to what we might think, or hear, we have the ability to control our attitude. “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5, NLT). We can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can choose our response to those circumstances.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8, emphasis added). In a world that is filled with bad news, think about good things. When those around you are consumed with anger and bitterness and fear, be different! “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
These are 6 ways to enhance your faith journey in 2026. They aren’t the only ways; God may have other suggestions for you. But they’re a great place to start!
What resolutions or practices are you planning to implement this year? I’d love to year your comments and suggestions!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In