My Top Picks For 2026
1. Happy New Year
2. Love
3. Joy
4. Peace
5. Our God Is Longsuffering
6. Gentleness
7. Goodness
8. Triumphant Faith
9. Meekness
10. Temperance
11. Confidence That Inspires And Endures
12. Mercy
13. Kindness
14. Prayer
15. Thankfulness
16. Purpose
17. Hope
18. Consider
1. Happy New Year
Happy New Year! Michael, my husband, enjoys the fantasy ball leagues. He is starting to look over all the baseball players to choose his favorite picks for his teams. I don’t follow sports, but I thought this would be a great way to begin the New Year. These are not New Year’s Resolutions, but Biblical attributes that I want to carry with me through the year.
2. Love
First of all, my top pick for 2026, is “Love”. It did not take me very long to decide that what I want most of all for the coming year is love. John 3:16 is probably the first Bible verse I learned as a child. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” My Savior died for me because of His great love, and I want to live in that love. I want to show more love to my family, my friends, and to others. We show our love for God by loving others. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35) I also want to have more love for my church and for the things of God. Love is my top pick for 2026.
3. Joy
Two weeks into my recovery from cancer surgery, my oncologist called and told me that there was more cancer on my last scan. I was having a very hard time with this recovery and the news of facing another surgery so soon robbed me of my joy. I know that the Lord is in control, and I know that God loves me and He makes no mistakes, but instead of feeling like I was improving, I felt like I was sinking in despair. The next two weeks were hard as I tried to enjoy Christmas. I finally came to the place where I cried out to my Lord and prayed like David, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (Psalm 51:12) I didn’t have the strength within me and I remembered Nehemiah 8:10 where God tells us, ““…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The next morning I had a follow up appointment with the surgeon who told me that my heart and lungs sounded good and she encouraged me regarding the next surgery. This brought peace to my troubled mind. That evening our children came over to celebrate Christmas and they brought good food and joy with them. The excitement of the grandchildren was contagious and by the end of the day I was tired, but feeling so much better. My next pick for 2026 is “Joy”. I want the joy of Christ, unspeakable and full of glory. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (I Peter 1:8)
4. Peace
My next pick for 2026 is “Peace.” We are all born in sin, and are enemies of God. When Jesus saved us we made peace with God, and the most wonderful peace of all, the peace of God follows. God gives us peace that the world can’t understand. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) We don’t know what trials and storms we will have in the coming year. Jesus is able, and sometimes does bring our storms to an end with great peace. “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39) There are other times when He gives us peace during the storms. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) I want to have the peace of God in my life. My God has never failed me and I know that He will never fail me.
5. Our God Is Longsuffering
After I decided on Love, Joy, and Peace, I realized that these are the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, so I’m going to continue with them today with “Longsuffering”. I began my Bible reading and I noticed how our God is so longsuffering with us, in the story of Noah. “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (I Peter 3:20) We are starting the New Year and I noticed that after the long hard year on the ark, Noah had a New Year. “And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.” (Genesis 8:13) I don’t know what kind of celebration they had, but I think that was probably the happiest first day of the year he had ever had in his 601 years of living. Some years naturally seem harder than others, but I have never had to spend a year through a storm as Noah had to do. He and his family, and animals of every sort, were shut up in the ark. If we back up to chapter 7:5 we read, “And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.” Noah did everything God told him to do, and he still went through the storm. Maybe you don’t have a problem with this, but sometimes when I’m going through a really hard storm I start wondering what I did to cause the storm. And God shows me that sometimes when we are in the midst of a storm we are right where God wants us to be. The next thing we see is that Noah did what it took to keep his family safe in the storm. “And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.” (Genesis 7:6-7) When we follow the Lord and lead our family in the ways of the Lord the people of the world won’t understand. They may mock us and try to lead us astray, but we need to keep our focus on God and do all that we can to protect our loved ones. When Noah went into the ark it wasn’t a pleasure cruise. His family had to pack food for them and for all the animals they had to take care of. Also, the rain didn’t fall immediately after they went on the ark. “And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” (Genesis 7:10-11) We sometimes try to warn others about the danger of not trusting Christ as their Savior, but because the consequences are delayed, they don’t see the necessity of asking the Lord to save them now. One more thing, New Year’s Day didn’t mean the sudden end of the storm they had been through for almost a full year. Noah had looked out the first day of the New Year, but they all still had to wait on the ark a little longer. “And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.” (Genesis 8:14) We are going into a New Year and we may be excited to start a new beginning, with hopes of a better year. Don’t get discouraged if you have to wait a little longer. It’s been a long year. Maybe you can see clear weather on the forecast. Don’t be impatient. Wait on the Lord. “And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.” (Genesis 8:15-16) Remember to give thanks to the Lord. The first thing Noah did after they got off the ark was build an altar unto the Lord. (Genesis 8:20) Thank you Lord, for bringing me through another year.
6. Gentleness
I like the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.” (I Kings 18:21-22) Elijah stood alone against the false prophets and God gave him a great, mountaintop victory. The wicked Queen Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet and he ran to the wilderness. There are so many lessons we can learn from this story, but today I see the gentleness of God. God did not rebuke Elijah for running. God let him rest and fed him. After he had time to rest, God spoke to him. Not through a great strong wind, not through an earthquake or fire, but through a still small voice. That’s what I want for the coming year. I want to listen for God’s gentle, still small voice. I am thankful for the gentleness of our Lord. This pick for 2026 is “Gentleness”. If my Almighty God can be gentle with me in my failures, then I should remember to be gentle with others. (And by the way, God told Elijah that He had 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. Sometimes we may feel alone, but we are really not alone.)
“4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (I Kings 19:4-12)
7. Goodness
Let’s continue with the Fruit of the Spirit as we come to “Goodness”. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) This was the first thing I learned about God as we prayed before every meal, “God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we are fed, Give us Lord our daily bread.” This was a wonderful way to learn of the goodness of God. From the very beginning, everything that God created was good.
“3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5)
Over and over in the Bible we read of the goodness of God. “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 106:1) With this pick for 2026, I want to be a good and faithful servant for my Lord and Savior!
8. Triumphant Faith
On the last day of 2025, Pastor Rick Byerly preached a sermon titled, “Can Faith Triumph?” In his introduction he asked, “What is the opposite of faith?” We can answer, “Fear and doubt.” Faith gives us courage to do what we know God will have us to do. Faith gives us resolve not to turn back, but continue to go in the direction God wants us to go. He continued with the question, “Can I view the future as I have the past?” We don’t know what God has for us in 2026. We can’t view the future as we have the past in that sense, but we can know by faith that just as God did not fail us in 2025, He will not fail us in 2026. We can have triumphant faith because God is faithful! I want that trusting faith!
“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)”
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:9)
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (I Corinthians 10:13)
9. Meekness
As I continue with my Top Picks For 2026, I see how important it is to be Spirit led day by day. We are almost to the end of the list in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Many people view meekness as weakness. This is far from the truth. We see this in the life of Moses. Moses was a great leader in the Old Testament. He stood before Pharaoh and told him to free the Israelites from their bondage. He warned Pharaoh with signs from God with plagues of blood, frogs, flies, darkness, and more ending with the death of all the firstborn in Egypt who did not apply the blood of a Passover Lamb to their door. Moses led the people 40 years in the wilderness. In all his strength and leadership, we see him described in Numbers 12:3, “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” In the New Testament we read that Jesus was meek. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) We are encouraged to be meek. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) Peter was speaking to the wives when he said, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (I Peter 3:3-4) Today I choose a meek and quiet spirit.
10. Temperance
I saw some beautiful pictures of temperature blankets shared online. The tops are various hues of blues and they gradually pick up greens before turning to oranges and reds in the middle, before turning back to blue as winter comes again. The idea behind them is that each row represents a day of the year and each color tells what the temperature was on that day. A person uses a different color of yarn to crochet one row every day of the year. The colder days are the deepest blues and the hotter days of summer are the brightest reds. Maybe it has to do with temperance sounding so much like temperature that made me think about a temperance blanket. If I took the time to crochet a row each day to signify my state of mind and actions, would I have a beautiful cool blue blanket? Or would I have rows of raging red or obnoxious orange, or maybe some envious greens, or even some fearful yellows? In the Bible temperance means moderation and self control. I think of self control as being a sign of wisdom and maturity. Temperance is last on the list of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. Peter also includes temperance, between knowledge and patience, in his thoughts about being fruitful. Temperance is a wonderful addition in my Top Picks For 2026.
“5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:5-8)
11. Confidence That Inspires And Endures
Pastor Rick Byerly preached another sermon which I want to share. His text was from I Chronicles 28, where King David is giving instructions to Solomon about building the temple. David had confidence in his instructions because they came from God. He knew the pattern for the temple and what things were to be made of gold and of others that were to be made of silver. He knew the colors that were to be used. David had confidence in the measurements, instructions, weight, and all the information for the temple because it all came from God. So, he could pass on the information with all confidence to his son, Solomon. We have confidence in the things of God because we get it from His Word. With this confidence we can pass these truths down to the next generation, so they can also have the presence and power of God. I want to continue through 2026 with confidence in my God so I can pass it on to those that follow. I want my confidence in my God to inspire others and endure throughout eternity.
“19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment. “ (I Chronicles 28:19-21)
12. Mercy
I’m still reading in Genesis and I came to chapter 42, and I feel a little like Jacob. His sons went to Egypt to buy some food during the famine and they want to take Benjamin back with them. “And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.” (Genesis 42:36) God was actually working in the lives of his family, but Jacob could not see this at the time. Michael and I have Covid, and my next surgery is scheduled for the end of the month and “all these things” are wearing on my mind and my body. When I came to the next chapter I stopped at the first few words in verse 14. “And God Almighty give you mercy…” (Genesis 43:14) “God Almighty”. Without the mercy of God Almighty in my life I would be lost. Before Jacob died Joseph went to him and Jacob blessed his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob was able to look back over his life and realize that God had blessed him. “And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.” (Genesis 48:3-4) I can see the blessing of God on my life, even when the little bumps in the road turn into pot holes, or seem like sink holes. God is good! Over and over in the book of Psalms we read, “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 107:1) Today I want to thank God Almighty for His mercy that endures forever.
13. Kindness
This came up on my memories and I want to share today…
One day I went to pour Lici a cup of juice and set the carton from the refrigerator on the counter beside the empty carton. As I reached for a cup, Elsa said, “I know which one has juice in it.” I asked her how she knew and she pointed to the newer one and replied, “It’s the heavy one.” She was right. Both juice cartons looked the same, but only the heavy one had juice in it, and you could only tell by lifting it. We can’t always tell how heavy a burden someone is carrying. We can’t look at someone and know how great their troubles and trials are. Friends that you know at church, or at work, may look like everything is okay, even though their hearts are heavy from the load they bear. We can get dressed up and fix our hair to go to church and nobody knows how much we are hurting. My thoughts today are simple. First of all, be kind. We can’t see what load someone is struggling to carry, and we don’t know how heavy the heart is of others. They may be carrying burdens too personal to share. Or, maybe they have carried the burden so long they now feel empty and worthless, or useless. Be kind. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32) The second thought is for those who are carrying those heavy burdens. You can go to Jesus with your burdens. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7) “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) If you feel empty, and you are searching for hope and a meaning for life, turn to Jesus. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) Jesus knows your heart, and He sees the load you bear.
14. Prayer
On Christmas Eve my grandson asked his dad, “Dad, can you text God and ask Him if it’s going to snow tomorrow? And if it’s not going to snow tomorrow, can you ask Him to make it snow tomorrow?” That sounds great doesn’t it, to have a line straight to God? We do! We can pray to God anytime. We are actually encouraged to “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) We can pray for our own needs, and we can pray for others. I often ask others to pray for me. It is a special blessing to me to hear that someone cares enough for me, to call out my name to God in prayer. Let’s pray more for one another. It is a joy to know that Almighty God hears and answers our prayers.
15. Thankfulness
It does my heart good to hear my grandchildren say, “Thank you, MeMaw”. We taught our children to be thankful and it is good that they are passing it down to their children. Many today are being raised with a feeling of entitlement, not only with what they are allowed to do, but what should belong to them. They are unthankful to God and to others. This is one of the signs of the last days which Timothy discussed. When Jesus healed the 10 lepers only one returned to give Him thanks. I wonder if today even 1 in 10 give thanks to God above. I want to show thanks everyday!
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:1-5)
16. Purpose
As I continue with my Top Picks For 2026, today I choose, “Purpose”. When I’m sick or recovering I begin to feel like I’ve lost my purpose. I need purpose. I enjoy being able to do things with our family. I enjoy going to church to sing and worship and fellowship with my Christian friends. I like working around the house and feeling useful. It is hard when I suddenly have to put a pause on life. I need purpose, for my physical, mental, and even spiritual well being. I believe that God lets me write these devotions to give me purpose. I know so many who are going through hard times and I want to encourage others. I want to share the way of salvation from time to time and I pray that God uses it to speak to someone who is reading. The older we get, the more that we seem to lose our purpose. I pray that God will let handfuls of purpose fall on me this coming year. There are two verses that I really like from the little book of Ruth. “And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.” (Ruth 2:3) I want God to lead the way and control my hap! And I also like Ruth 2:16, “And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.” He didn’t say drop handfuls on purpose… but, he said handfuls of purpose. Ruth needed to fulfill her purpose. I need to fulfill my purpose and I’m praying that God will help me do that.
17. Hope
Do you have hopes for the coming year? I hope I can recover soon and get back to church and worship. I hope to regain my strength and health so I can plant a garden in the spring. I want to plant radishes and squash because they come up and are ready to eat first. I hope that I can hoe and pull weeds, and gather cucumbers to make pickles. I hope I can put up cans of tomatoes and beans to enjoy next winter. I hope the grandchildren can come and work with me in the garden and enjoy it with me. I hope we can take a little vacation this summer. I hope that I can be a better witness for my Lord and that I can live for Him. These are hopes I have… but, sometimes I am tempted to lose hope, and just give up. My recovery from the last surgery was long, and now we are still trying to get over Covid before my next surgery. Many times I write the devotions to encourage others. Today, I am writing for myself. I want to keep telling me, don’t lose hope. I want to remember Romans 15:13. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” My hope is in Christ Jesus my Lord.
18. Consider
I wasn’t really sure which word I wanted to use for my last pick for 2026, but I read this verse and knew this was it. “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” (I Samuel 12:24) If things happen that are out of my control and my doubt begins to grow, then I need to consider all the great things God has done for me, and put my trust in Him. When I feel overwhelmed in the world and I don’t know where to turn, let me look up and consider it is all in the hands of my God. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4) If money gets tight and I start to worry how we are going to make it, I want to consider the lilies and remember that God has always provided our needs. “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Luke 12:27) When things are going really well and God continues to bless me then I need to always consider others and be a blessing to them. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Hebrews 10:24) And above all, I must always consider that Jesus came to die for me, and He is worthy of all my praise, and love, and life.
“49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;” (John 11:49-51)
