2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Determine To Live a Life of Significance in 2026

Welcometo Pastor’s Chat. Today, there are just four days left—including today—until abrand-new year. I’ve been talking with you about preparing for a new year,about making sure we are living a life that is different from the world aroundus (Ephesians 4:17). A life of significance, not just trying to survive anotherday. The way we live that kind of life is by being focused on eternity—lookingat the things that are eternal rather than the things that are temporal (2Corinthians 4:16-18). We intentionally take time to think on things that arelovely, kind, of good report, and virtuous. We take time to meditate onJesus—thanking Him for who He is, for what He has done for us, for thesalvation He has granted us, and for the fact that He is ever-present with us. Whenyou meditate on the good things of God, you develop an attitude of gratitudeand thankfulness. That kind of heart enables you to face each day withconfidence instead of fear, worry, and anger—three emotions that can destroyyour life and damage the lives of those around you, especially therelationships that should be the dearest to you. So I encourage you: take timewith God every day. In fact, don’t just make God a priority—make Him the centerof every aspect of your life (Matthew 6:33). TheBible tells us that to fear the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13). But whatdoes that really mean? It means you live with confidence and assurance. You believeand trust that His presence is with you at all times. You’re continually awareof His nearness. He is there to help you, to guide you, to warn you, toencourage you, to lift you up, and to give you grace. These are things that arevitally important to the Christian life. We experience this wonderful presenceof the Lord by taking intentional, special time to be alone with Him every day! Thinkabout it this way: if you didn’t take time to spend alone with your wife, yourchildren, or other relationships that are dear to you, those relationshipswould deteriorate. They would lose their influence, and you would lose theinfluence you should have on them. In the same way, our relationship with theLord requires time and attention. So,my friend, take time with the Lord in His Word. I encourage you to do thatfaithfully. We produce two Bible reading calendars—Plan A and Plan B—that makeit possible to read through the Bible at least once a year by taking just 15minutes a day. (Plan A takes a little longer). You can listen to Scripturewhile driving to work, while getting ready in the morning, or by sittingquietly with your Bible open as someone reads God’s Word aloud. There are somany Bible-reading apps available today that you can download right to your phone—manyof them don’t even require an internet connection. Iwant to encourage you to make a commitment to read the entire Bible in 2026, bythe grace of God. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by everyword that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). But not only readthe Word—meditate on it. Take a verse or a thought from the passage you readand let it settle into your heart. Myfriend, I encourage you this year: have a plan. Our Bible reading calendars areavailable on the Pastor Mike Impact Ministry website. Get into God’s Word—andlet God’s Word get into you. Some people say, “I don’t feel like I get anythingout of it when I read it that way.” But I’m convinced, my friend, that it’sgetting something out of you. Water running through a strainer doesn’t stay inthe strainer, but it sure cleans what’s inside. In the same way, the Word ofGod cleanses us daily. Jesus even said, “Now you are clean through the Wordwhich I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). The psalmist said, “Thy word haveI hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).