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Welcome to 2026! Have you made any New Year’s resolutions or goals?  The big question is, are you keeping them so far?

After failed attempts at New Year’s resolutions, I’ve found having a word or phrase for the new year helps me turn my mindset towards something more positive and doable. It helps me focus and reach for a few goals. I achieved three goals last year*, and the Courage, Confidence, and Complete in Christ phrase helped me through some difficult patches. I wrote it on my planner calendar and found that after several months, it had nestled in a cozy corner of my being to come out when needed. Admittedly, by the end of the year it should have been written on my hands instead of only the first few months of the calendar.

This year I couldn’t decide on just one word, but chose a new phrase—Abide, Refresh, and Restore. I seem to have a thing with threes!

Abide in Christ, based on John 15:1-7. I want to live my life in Christ and be fruitful in the work He has called me to. There is much to garner from this passage, and I will abide in His word to take it all in. “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (vs. 4). I want to explore the nuances of Abide—dwell, live, stay, wait, endure, accept.

Refresh my soul with His living water, and with a Bible that is a different version than my standard one, unmarked and ready for new contemplation. Refresh with a Bible reading plan on audio. Refresh my outlook on a couple of projects I’ve been trying to get done—maybe a new perspective will help.

Restore my energy from a couple of very busy months that has left me depleted and requiring rest—also, remember to do so as needed. Continue to pray for Restoration of a relationship with a family member. Abide in Christ with expectation in the God of hope.

Do you need to Refresh your time with God, Bible reading or devotions? We all need time to refresh ourselves in some way. And we need time to Abide in Christ.

How about Restore? Do you need to restore your relationship with God, or someone else? Is there some other area you need restored in your life? God will hear your prayers as you Abide in Him.

Would Abide, Refresh, or Restore be what you need this year? What word or phrase might you carry into 2026? Or do you set New Year’s resolutions? Let me know in the comments!

* PTL! One of my goals this year was to publish my poetry collection, Egrets Rise on Amazon. And at the end of December, it was done! Go to the Book page on my website to read about it and order the paperback or eBook.