In 2026, Joy is my Compass!

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My word for 2026 is Joy, and the verse I have been reflecting on is Romans 15:13, which states: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

In a world that often equates well-being with external success, the biblical definition of joy (or chara in Greek) is revolutionary. And let’s not confuse happiness with joy.  Happiness is a reaction to favorable "happenings," BUT biblical joy is a settled state of contentment rooted in the character of God.

As I enter into 2026, I choose to define joy not as the absence of struggle, but as the presence of God. It is the "calm delight" that comes from knowing that, regardless of the global or personal climate, the Sovereign King is still on His throne. 

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, not a feeling.  Galatians 5:22 lists joy as the second fruit of the Spirit. This implies two things for me this year:

1. It is cultivated: Fruit takes time to grow. It requires the soil of Scripture and the water of prayer.
2. And it is supernatural: You cannot manufacture holy joy through willpower. It is the natural byproduct of "abiding in the vine" (John 15:5).

To live out this word in 2026, I am focusing less on "trying to be joyful" and more on "staying connected to the Source of Joy." When the connection is strong, the fruit of joy appears automatically.

Nehemiah 8:10 declares, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." In the original context, the people were weeping over their past failures. Nehemiah corrected them, essentially saying that their strength for the future was found in celebrating God’s goodness.

So in 2026, I choose to use joy as a defensive tool:

• I use joy against Anxiety: Joy reminds us that the battle is already won.
• I use joy Against Bitterness: Joy shifts focus from what we lack to what we have been given.
• And I use joy against Exhaustion: Joy provides a "second wind" that physical rest cannot provide.

And friends, a "Word of the Year" only changes your life if it changes your days. Three practices I have put in place for this year are:

1. Gratitude Audits: At the end of each day, I name three "God-glimmers"—moments where His joy was visible.
2. Sacrifice of Praise: On the days when joy feels furthest away, I offer a "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15). Worship is often the doorway to the joy you can't yet feel.
3. Joyful Service: Joy is one of the few things that increases as it is given away. I will intentionally look for opportunities to be the "overflow" mentioned in Romans 15:13.

As I navigate 2026, I choose to let "Joy" be my compass. It isn't a naive optimism; it is a profound theological statement that God is good, He is here, and He is enough. May my life reflect the "indescribable and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8) that comes from a life hidden in Christ.

Friends, I have attached episode 25, “A New Year, A New Word”.  There is something special about starting a New Year with God-centered prayer and having a dedicated word that intentionally stirs the heart for God’s purpose and plans.  In 2024, my Word was “Gather, in 2025, the word was Harvest and this year, in 2026, my word is Joy. I encourage you to choose a spiritual word for 2026 focused on intimacy with God.  Be intentional about integrating this word into your daily life through prayer, meditation, and journaling.