As a new year approaches, many of us feel a tug to slow down, refocus, and draw nearer to God. We asked our Reader Rewards members how they’re hoping to step further into faith in 2026—whether through intentional spiritual practices, setting healthy boundaries, or cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in daily life. Their responses are a beautiful reminder that spiritual growth looks different for everyone, yet all of it begins with a simple desire to know God more deeply.

Each story is published with permission and may have been edited for clarity.

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When you look ahead to 2026, what is one spiritual practice you plan to implement to help you grow in your relationship with God?

• Reading through the Bible with people from my church – Amy B.
• In 2026, I want to commit to a consistent daily prayer life that includes spiritual reading from the scriptures. – Carey C.
• I want to find a church home where we feel welcome. – Deanna B.
• Continue to spend time with Him. – Frances H.
• A specific time for meditation & prayer each day – at least 30 minutes to an hour. No phone, TV, or music on, just me & the Lord. – Melba W.
• Daily renewing my mind in Christ. – Sandi B.

What distraction do you plan to remove – or what boundary will you set – to create space for a deeper walk with Christ?

• I plan on removing a huge portion of social media from my life in order to create space for a deeper walk with Christ. – Britany D.
• I plan to remove worry to create space for a deeper walk with Christ. – Jonathan M.
• I plan to purge my life of physical possessions so I have room in my life for spiritual pursuits. – Laura H.
• I plan to read my Bible before I open my phone in the morning. – Yvetta V.
• I want to stop looking at so many screens. My goal is to limit them greatly. Use them when they make sense, but clear my head for a closer walk with God, while also creating more time for others. – Tammy S.
• Make sure that I prioritize time with the Lord each day instead of relegating that time to the end of the day and then skipping it when I’m too tired. – Laura J.

In partnership with the Holy Spirit, what fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) do you hope to cultivate more of in your life, and how might you pursue that growth?

• I’m working on peace. I’m praying to God that he fills me greatly with peace because I know I have an issue with anger sometimes. I want to be a person who is kind and patient, even in situations that I’m not comfortable with. I want to be a peacemaker. – Adaliz R.
• I hope to cultivate more self-control. I sometimes find myself mindlessly scrolling social media and then wonder why… – Cheryl H.
• Patience! It will be easy to have opportunities to practice it as a wife in ministry and a mom of littles. I will identify tension points that cause me to be impatient and memorize scripture to help me stay patient in those situations. – Haley C.
• I want to cultivate love in a greater sense, because the world needs to see more of the Love of Christ in our lives as believers. – William D.
• I hope to cultivate joy. I want to share and reflect Christ’s love with others so they can see His light. I will try to see the good in circumstances and remember that my joy is found in Christ. – Maria E.
• I would like to increase the quality of gentleness (which, for me, is closely tied to being gracious). I hope to grow in this area by praying for God to increase my love for others as I interact with them, especially those who are different from me and those I disagree with on some things. – Hannah Grace S.

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We’re grateful to each person who shared their heart and their hopes for the year ahead. Whether your next step in faith feels small or significant, remember that every act of trust, prayer, and obedience draws you closer to the One who faithfully leads the way. As you enter 2026, may you experience renewed purpose, deeper peace, and the joy of walking each day with Christ.