What Can God Do With Our Dedicated Lives in 2026?
Are you eagerly looking forward to 2026? Or has 2025 been so bad that you dread another day, much less another year?
Could it be that experiencing more of God’s wonders in the future begins with dedicating or consecrating our lives (setting ourselves apart) today?
Throughout Scripture, God often instructed His people to consecrate themselves right before He moved powerfully in their midst. The day before the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land, Joshua told the people:
Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. (Joshua 3:5 ESV).
Do you long for God to do wonders in your life? In your marriage? In your church? I do.
So … where do we begin?
We begin by asking God to help us desire Him more than anyone or anything else. We ask Him to deepen our longing for Him until we willingly separate ourselves from sinful activities, unhealthy desires, destructive thoughts and compromising relationships.
Setting our lives apart for God requires the Holy Spirit’s help – and the courage to ask ourselves some hard questions:
- What relationships (in person or online) need to change – or end?
- Are we spending too much time on social media or online games?
- Do we deny our addiction to gambling or pornography?
- What occupies our thoughts?
- Whom do we need to forgive?
- What other habits are quietly weakening our relationship with God and those we love?
- And finally, are we willing to do whatever it takes to change?
The enemy will try to weaken our resolve. We’re certainly doomed to fail if we rely on sheer willpower (pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps). But if we put our trust in Christ to change us, we’ll persevere.
Imagine what God could do with our consecrated hearts and lives – and how our lives would testify to the wonders God would work within us.
The regrets we could avoid in our relationships alone in 2026 would make our resolve to live this way worth sticking to. As we experience less guilt, we’ll be amazed by how much lighter our hearts and mood become.
Consider, too, the impact we’ll have in our churches, which will spill over into our communities. Envision all the ways God might use us when we’re wholeheartedly committed to Him.
Can you see the benefits of consecrating your heart and life (your choices and dreams) to God?
Let’s aim to spend every day in 2026 setting ourselves apart for Him and learning to make wiser, godlier choices. Then, instead of dreading another new year, we’ll step into 2027 with hope-filled expectation.
What about you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Your comment might also benefit others.)
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Do you long for God to do wonders in your life? In your marriage? In your church?
I am hoping for a better year! Although 2025 held no specific issues for me, I know I can improve my relationship with God. My weaknesses tend to lean towards patience and judging others. Your posts are helping me to remember that I need not walk down this road alone.
Hi, Karen! It’s so nice to hear from you again.
We share many of the same struggles.
Thank you so much for sharing so honestly. Your desire to grow closer to God—and your willingness to name areas such as patience and judgment—reflects a heart already listening to Him. None of us walks this road perfectly. Thankfully, as you said, God never asks us to walk it alone.
Thank you for the compliment, Karen! May this coming year be (for both of us) one of deeper awareness of God’s presence, gentler patience with others and grace for ourselves as well.
I know this past year was filled with many blessings, growing family, and I’m always amazed how quickly the time goes by for another full year of promise! I know that whatever might come our way in 2026, that God is with us wherever we go!! When I feel unsure of the future, I know I can only depend wholeheartedly on the One who created me! So with that I give myself to the Lord to sanctify me completely to do His will in my life. “Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. / And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” Leviticus 20:7-8. Thanks Sheryl for giving me eager anticipation on what the Lord will do!✝️
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful reflection, Kim. Your trust in God’s presence—no matter what the future holds—is such a powerful testimony of faith. I love how you’ve anchored your hope in the truth that the One Who created us is also the One Who sanctifies us. That posture of surrender, of offering yourself fully to His will, is both humbling and inspiring.
Thank you for the Scripture you shared and for your encouragement, Kim. It blesses me deeply to know these words have stirred eager anticipation for what the Lord will do. May He continue to guide, strengthen, and sanctify you as you walk with Him into the days ahead.
Faith gives hope
Hope gives strength
Strength gives motivation
Motivation gives purpose
Purpose gives meaning
“Keep The Faith!”
RIP Margaret Rogers
January 23rd, 2025
Amen. Great post, Mark.
And … WELCOME to Today Can Be Different!
We hope to see you often.
I’m still praying for my husband’s salvation as well as my daughters. I have to say that I’m starting 2026 with renewed hope and faith.
I’ve reconnected with my sister which I’ve prayed about and asked the Lord to break the chains of bitterness because of past unbelievable hurts. I no longer want to carry that baggage and left it at the cross.
So I’m moving forward with great optimism.
I cherish the messages of hope that you post.
Happy New Year to a wonderful mentor.
Congratulations, Sandra! I’m proud of you (in Christ)!
And thank you for your compliment. Your words TRULY encourage me.