2026 – A Year to Contend for Peace

As we step into 2026, one word keeps echoing in my spirit: Peace. This year will not be one of passive waiting—it will require intentionality, focus, and faith. Let’s begin this year by steadying ourselves in the promise of God’s Word.

God is our peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Our peace is not found in our circumstances but in our intentional focus on Christ.

Focused Intention

This year will demand focused intention. We cannot afford to drift through life hoping things will work out. If we want peace in the midst of chaos, we must set our minds on Christ:

Peace begins with trust. Trust requires intentional focus on the thing or the One we are trusting in. And focus requires discipline. Distractions will come—fear, anxiety, even good things will attempt to pull us away from God’s presence. But if Jesus is our focal point, we will navigate every storm with grace.

Storms Will Come—But Peace Prevails

Have you ever felt the rumble in your stomach, the one that seems as if your body is manifesting your thoughts?  The thoughts you think are not getting to you and yet they are already in your deepest parts.

These body sensations of anxiety are rooted in your past experiences when things were out of your control.  Sometimes they warn you that something is going to happen but you do not have a conscious awareness of such.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  - Ps 46:10  The NASB95 uses “cease striving and know that I am God.” Entering the Lord's rest requires us to cease striving from works. We choose peace.

Jesus warned us that tribulation is inevitable, but He also promised His peace:

This peace—Shalom—is more than calm feelings. It is wholeness, provision, and freedom from fear. Even when the waves crash, your landing does not have to destroy you. Like Paul on his storm-tossed journey to Rome (Acts 27), we can stand firm when we know our mission and trust God’s promise.

Unlike Peter when he asked Jesus to call him out on the waters, we cannot look at the waves surrounding us or we too will lose our footing.

Quiet Your Soul

Our greatest battles often happen within our minds. Anxiety, fear, and racing thoughts can drown out God’s voice. Scripture reminds us:

Quietness is not weakness—it is strength. It is the posture that allows us to hear God clearly. Speak life over yourself: “My soul is at peace. I am comforted by God.”

Words for 2026

Here are the words God impressed on my heart for this year. Write them down, pray over them, and ask Him what they mean for you:

• Intentional

• Focus

• Quiet

• Rest

• Peace

• Build

• Presence (Glory)

• Provision

Prepare Through Fasting

As we begin our corporate fast on January 8, be intentional. Ask God what kind of fast He is calling you to. Isaiah reminds us:

Fasting breaks chains, brings clarity, and positions us to hear God’s voice. Pair your fast with a commitment to read the Bible through this year.

Final Encouragement

No matter what 2026 brings—storms, uncertainty, or challenges—remember this:

Stay focused. Stay intentional. Stay anchored in Christ. Peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of Jesus.