5 Questions to Ask Before You Enter 2026 by Becky Harling

By Becky Harling
The week before New Year's Day is a holy week for me personally. I have developed practices over the years to position my heart in the right place before I enter a new chapter of life. Just as I want to give thoughtful attention to closing a chapter well and opening the next one effectively when I'm writing, I also want to do the same in my life journey. One of the practices I have developed is to read through the book of Isaiah. As I read, I listen for God's invitations to me personally. Isaiah is such a great book because it encompasses the entire gospel and God's desires for us as His people.
5 Questions to Ask Before You Enter 2026 by Becky Harling
 
Ebook PDF Download
By Jeremy Lopez
Price: $16.99
Sale! $9.99
Click here to order.
 
 
The week before New Year’s Day is a holy week for me personally. I have developed practices over the years to position my heart in the right place before I enter a new chapter of life. Just as I want to give thoughtful attention to closing a chapter well and opening the next one effectively when I’m writing, I also want to do the same in my life journey.
 
One of the practices I have developed is to read through the book of Isaiah. As I read, I listen for God’s invitations to me personally. Isaiah is such a great book because it encompasses the entire gospel and God’s desires for us as His people.
 
As I read through the book of Isaiah, here are five questions I ask as I’m reading:
 
What can I celebrate from the past year?
 
As you think back on 2025, make a list of the blessings you experienced. Think through relationships healed, friendships restored, goals achieved, and family times celebrated. Where did you see the goodness of God? How did you experience His lavish love for you? When we take time to remember and celebrate, our faith is strengthened to embrace all that God has for us in the New Year.
 
What does God want me to let go of from the old year before I enter the new year?
 
Another question to consider is, what do I need to let go of to experience all that God has in store for me? It could be activities, eating patterns, or attitudes. It could be Netflix, alcohol, or work-related addictions. Limits are good for us. If I’m going to make room for fruitfulness in my life, there needs to be some pruning. Cutting things out is never easy, but always beneficial.
 
What dreams has God planted in my heart for the new year?
 
As you read through Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what dreams He is planting in your heart. I need to caution you here. Be sure every dream is in line with the Word of God; otherwise, it’s not from the Holy Spirit. As you read Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to align your heart with His. As you yield to Him, He will be the initiator of new dreams.
 
Where is God inviting me to greater faith for the next season?
 
Faith pleases God, and He is always leading us toward deeper and stronger faith. He may be calling you to greater faith with your finances. He may be calling you to greater faith in your prayer life. He may be calling you to greater faith as far as stepping out and taking risks for Him. As you read Scripture, be mindful of patterns. Where you see a pattern repeating itself is often an indicator of a place where God is inviting you to trust Him more.
 
In light of what God is speaking to me, what are my priorities for the New Year?
 
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. After you’ve read through portions of Scripture and considered these questions, make a list of priorities for the New Year. What or who will receive the greatest amount of your time? Where will you prioritize your attention? What new rhythms might you need to develop? What are some goals you can set for yourself, in keeping with what God has spoken to you?
 
Friend, every New Year is a gift from God. My encouragement to you is that you enter purposefully, expectantly, and willingly to join God in His plans. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to all that God has for you. He has a plan for your life, and it’s a good one!
 
Becky Harling
 

Related Articles • More Articles

My house is decorated. The tree is up, and the lights are hung. Oh, how I love this season! However, it's easy to forget that the season of Advent is about waiting well for Immanuel. Seasons of waiting can feel lonely. They raise questions in our hearts about whether or not God is really listening to our prayers. As I've been thinking about waiting, I've been studying Luke 1. I'm intrigued by the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary in their season of waiting. Each could have felt lonely for many reasons, but in their waiting, God led them to one another.
Have you ever felt completely paralyzed, wondering which way to go? I have. I remember a time, a couple of years ago, when Steve and I were hiking. A storm was brewing in the sky, and somehow, we kept choosing the wrong path back to our car. We ended up wandering in the forest for a couple of hours. We definitely got our steps in—that's for sure! Getting lost in the woods is one thing, but it can feel far more challenging when we feel lost in life. Perhaps we feel paralyzed, wondering which way is the right way to move forward.
I've often heard jokes about women talking too much and not listening enough. However, as I read through the gospels, I see women who dared to lean in and listen to Jesus. As a result, they were greatly used by Him, and their stories continue to be told through generations. I want to be a woman whose life is marked by listening. I've had to grow quite a bit in this area and still, honestly, have a lot farther to go. However, as I stay intentional, listening becomes a little easier. As I practice listening to God, I slowly become more attuned to His voice.