Read: Isaiah 61
Watch: https://bibleproject.com/videos/isaiah-61/
Bye Bye 25, Hello 2026!
As we close out this year, I want to say a sincere thank you to each of you! Thank you for making 2025 a wonderful year at IBC, Madrid. It was my first full calendar year as your senior pastor, and I am honored to have walked with you through the seasons, adventures, challenges, and joys we have experienced together.
As we look toward 2026, we stand at the door of a new year, just as we wake each morning to the opportunity of a new day. We do not know what will happen tomorrow, nor do we know the events of the coming year. There are sure to be great joys as well as difficult seasons.
However, the only One who knows the future is our Lord and King; therefore, we put our trust in Him. If we choose to keep Christ at the center of our hearts and trust by faith that God works all things for good, then we are safe in Him—even in the swells of life, both good and bad.
We have spent the last few weeks focusing on His Hope, His Joy, His Peace, and His Love. If we continually set our minds on Christ, we will live in that hope, joy, peace, and love. In other words, we clothe ourselves with Christ.
How can we partner with God daily as He helps us navigate the twists of life?
- Begin your day with the Word. Set a specific time and plan to spend minutes in His Word. I encourage you to use an app to read through the Bible in one year; it will provide reminders and track your progress.
- Return to God in prayer. Morning, noon, and night, reset your focus on Christ to restore your union with Him. Intentionally set aside part of your day to dedicate to God.
- Use digital tools. I highly suggest the One Minute Pause app. (https://wildatheart.org/pause ). It is a great tool to train ourselves to pause, reset our focus, and center our hearts on Christ.
For a deeper walk, I suggest the “30 Days to Resilient” program found within the Pause App. It requires just 8-10 minutes in the morning and evening. I have done this multiple times, and I can tell you it is life-changing. Since tomorrow is January 1st, if you start tomorrow, you will be finished before the end of the month. That is a strong start to the year!
A final note of grace: We all set goals for the new year, but statistically, few are fully realized. Give yourself grace. You can always start a plan over again. Just as we train our bodies to be fit, we need to train our hearts and minds. This is spiritual discipline, and it takes time—but you are not alone. Ask Jesus for His help.
Pray:
May 2026 be a year of our Father’s blessings upon you and your household. May Christ rule and reign over our hearts, minds, and lives. May we be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, the One who challenges, encourages, and breathes life into us.
May the peace that passes understanding be on you and yours in the coming year.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Additions:
Sign up here: https://ibcmadrid.churchcenter.com/registrations
Peace Pursuit Quickstart Guide
LINK
Leadership At IBC, Madrid
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