Choose in 2026
We
hope for a better 2026 than last year.
We know our country is not well governed. The solution is well known to many of us, but
not quite yet enough voters to save our nation.
There are still too many deceived or apathetic citizens. We can easily assign blame for Canada's poor
state, as the dismal numbers and metrics tell their truth. However, we must look at ourselves.
There
are ways to carry the Christmas Spirit into the New Year and beyond that will
bring better living in 2026. The New
Year is not just a time for resolutions, but for living forward with choices
that lead us closer to our better selves.
The
uplifting, hopeful promise of Christmas was first noted in Genesis. God our creator, was coming to be with
us. Then, the long story unfolds about
the nature of the human heart, which had become separated from God. However, reconciliation with God was made
possible by our choosing to respond to His call. In 2026, we could choose truth more often.
Christmas
commemorates the birth of Christ, who humbly came to earth as a baby. Creator God humbled Himself to temporarily
live among His creation, with its sickness, suffering, and sin. What would choosing that kind of humility in
our lives look like? It could mean
offering to help a colleague with a project, even if it's not your
responsibility. Humankind has been
self-centred and rebellious, failing to humbly recognize our actual position in
life before God. In 2026, we can choose
to walk more frequently on the path of humility and truth.
In
2026, we could also practice more patience.
We need patience to deal with unfulfilled longings and stress. Passion is a powerful desire, and these
yearnings frustrate us to the point of giving up or lashing out. When we want something badly, the longing can
become heavy. But remember, the reward
of patience is hope and encouragement.
Seek to hear from God, then be quiet and learn to listen to His
voice. The Lord does not always give us
what we desire. Instead, He might
provide us with something we never thought to ask for. Patience and trust go together.
As
the Christmas celebrations end and decorations are put away, we might struggle
to believe that God is faithful. A
lifetime of steadfast faith doesn't happen overnight. It's built upon years of ordinary
perseverance. Faith is a steadiness, a
daily belief that God is good, that He is real, that He is for you, and that we
do not need all the answers right now.
God is trustworthy with our prayers, and He is there for a relationship.
We
can trust God in life's big decisions and in the dull minutes (laundry,
traffic, yard work, or paying bills). We
can trust God for energy, discernment, patience, and generosity of spirit.
We
can trust God to faithfully show us mercy when we lack patience or become
self-centred. We can live forward by
actively replacing the bad in our minds with good things and trusting and
declaring God's goodness, an act of faith.
When we start to do these things, we discover a kinder side within
ourselves.
For
life in 2026, there is a formula:
The
Spirit of God in one’s life yields fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance, and self-control—and no shame exists
against any of them. Those who have
chosen to belong to Jesus Christ have rejected their old natural desires with
all that they lusted for. If the Spirit
of God inspires our lives, we can live to the fullest through the Spirit's
motivation.
The
acts of selfishness are evident in this world: immorality, idolatry, hatred,
discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, betrayal, lies,
factions, insincerity, envy, and the like.
Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. Against such things, there
is no law or social prohibition.
Galatians 5:19-23
In
2026, we can choose to be more humble, generous, peaceful, patient, faithful,
kind, and thankfully joyful. Will you?
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