Donate
Back to devotions

Building your year on God’s character

You may be one for making New Year’s resolutions, or you may prefer to make a slower, gentler entrance into 2026. I have never been one to make resolutions because I always find targets and goals quite overwhelming!

Statista, an online research company, says that 59% of people that make resolutions plan to eat healthier, 56% plan to save more money, and 53% hope to exercise more. According to research, almost 80% of these goals have been abandoned by February! Staying consistent and motivated clearly isn’t easy.

Rooting our year in God’s character

But although I won’t be making any New Year’s resolutions, I will be resolving to lean into the promises of God with much more grit and determination. I will endeavour to frame my year around the character and goodness of God.

I’ll remind myself at the beginning of the year of who God says He is. When we root our year in who God is, rather than what we can achieve, we will find peace and strength regardless of what life throws at us. Through God, we have a peace and joy that circumstances cannot shake.

Promises to hold on to

This will be the ‘banner’ over which I want my year to unfold and the lenses through which I’ll choose to view life, no matter what comes my way in 2026.

I’d love to share a few ‘banner’ Scriptures with you now, so we can remind ourselves of these things together. They stand in stark contrast to the negativity, cynicism and hopelessness evident in the world around us.

I will choose to believe that God’s plans for me are good and that I am kept safe in His love, which is all around me. This love gently steers me though the ups and downs of life, keeping me steadfast.

God’s Word and His promises to us will always accomplish something. We may feel that circumstances aren’t changing, or that God isn’t working on our behalf, but Scripture tells us that God is always at work. May we learn to see with our spiritual eyes and be at peace with God’s timing.

Every sunrise is a reminder of God’s fresh mercy and unwavering faithfulness. Yesterday’s failures don’t define us because His grace meets us anew each day. In a world that changes rapidly, His steadfast love is the anchor for our souls.

Although fear often creeps in when we face the unknown, this verse reminds us that we’re never alone. God’s presence is constant, and His strength is constantly available to us. Whatever challenges arise, we can move forward with courage because He upholds us with His righteous right hand. We need never walk through anything alone.

Christ, our anchor

As begin another year, let’s remember that Christ is our bedrock and anchor. When the waves of uncertainty rise and the winds of change blow, we can stand secure because our lives are rooted in Him.

His unchanging nature holds us steady when everything else feels fragile and frail. Resolutions may falter, circumstances may shift, but Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Let’s build our year on this solid foundation, trusting that His promises will never fail.

Response

Stay up to date
Donate today

About MAF UK

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator. For over 75 years we have been flying light aircraft over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts. We enable more than 1,500 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief and long-term development. Our pilots and personnel deliver relief workers, doctors, pastors, school books, food, medicines - everything that can only be safely and speedily delivered by air. Our faithful supporters give and pray to make this all possible.

© 2026 / MAF UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and Scotland (SC039107)