December 31st, 2025
by Sam Kiser
by Sam Kiser
26 Hopes & Prayers for You and the Church in 2026
Let's make this year count. If you are going to make resolutions... then do just that. Make some commitments and then actually have the resolve to keep them. Under your own power, you will fail, but with the help of the Spirit, you don't have to just survive 2026; you can thrive.
This list is a list of hope and prayers. Pray them, pursue them with hope, and ask for God's help to persevere in them this year. I'm not trying to give you 26 steps to being awesome or some TED Talk with Bible verses sprinkled on top. This is about centering your life around the Gospel and fighting like hell to stay on course.
The Gospel is not advice. It’s news — good news. And news changes everything. The news of the Gospel demands that you reorient your life around it.
So below are 26 hopes and prayers — for you, for our church, and for the Church at large. Some are hard. Some are encouraging. All are shaped by Scripture and centered on Jesus.
The 26 Hopes & Prayers for 2026
1. Read Your Bible.
Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Pick it up. Get a plan. Read it with your church, your spouse, your friends. Read it slowly. Deeply. Let the Bible read you.
As John Piper said, "The goal of reading the Bible is not to master the text, but to be mastered by it." Open the Word and let it shape you.
I study the scriptures so I can learn how He talks so I can hear him when He speaks.
"My sheep know my voice and a stranger they will not follow." -Jesus (John 10)
2. Pray.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 — "Pray without ceasing."
Not just before meals or in a panic. Real prayer. Personal. Daily. Consistent. Honest.
And sometimes — silent. Learn to be still before God.
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." Our culture is noisy. Busy. Distracted. But stillness is resistance. Five minutes of silence in prayer might be the most spiritual thing you do all day.
Prayer is about communion, not performance. Speak. Listen. Wait. Repeat.
3. Enjoy Your Life.
1 Corinthians 10:31 — "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Joy isn’t worldly. Joy is worship. Stop living like a martyr. Stop believing you have to hate your life to be holy.
John Piper said it best: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
So take the trip. Laugh with your kids. Drink your coffee slow. Worship while you work.
4. Be Grateful.
Philippians 4:4–8 — Rejoice. Be gentle. Don’t be anxious. Pray with thanksgiving.
Gratitude is a weapon. Use it.
5. Get After It.
Colossians 3:23 — "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
This is the year to stop coasting. Stop blaming. Stop blaming the economy, your parents, your church, and your personality type. Start taking ownership. Do hard things. Show up early. Lift heavy. Be excellent. Be faithful.
Jocko Willink says, "Discipline equals freedom." So get disciplined.
6. Read & Listen to Things That Build Your Faith.
Run everything through the Philippians 4:8 filter. Is it true? Noble? Pure? Excellent? Praise-worthy?
If it doesn’t stir your affection for Jesus, why are you giving it your attention?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way: "The books you read today become the thoughts you think tomorrow." That goes for your podcasts, YouTube videos, and Netflix, too.
7. Forgive.
Ephesians 4:32 — "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Unforgiveness is a poison you drink, hoping someone else dies. Let it go. Forgive even if they’re not sorry. Forgive because you’ve been forgiven.
"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." — C.S. Lewis
8. Step Up.
1 Peter 4:10 — "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another."
Don’t sit on the bench. If God gave you gifts, use them. Serve. Lead. Mentor. Help.
9. Open Your Home.
Romans 12:13 — "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
Your home is a weapon for the Kingdom. Use it. You don’t need a bigger house — you need a bigger heart.
N.T. Wright said, "Hospitality is the practice of God's welcome."
10. Speak Life.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
_“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.."
Let your words build up, not tear down. Use your voice to encourage, not gossip. Compliment your kids. Affirm your spouse. Speak life.
11. Live Generously.
2 Corinthians 9:7 — "God loves a cheerful giver."
Give your time, your money, your energy. Give from the heart and not out of guilt, but as an act of worship.
12. Work on You and Stop Worrying About Your Brother.
Matthew 7:3 — "Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the log in your own?"
Jordan Peterson says, "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world." Let’s start there.
13. Embrace Accountability.
Proverbs 27:17 — "Iron sharpens iron."
Surround yourself with people who tell you the truth. Welcome it. Invite it.
14. Choose Joy Over Cynicism.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing..." — Romans 15:13
You’re not deep just because you're skeptical. Choose joy. Practice it. Protect it.
15. Go Touch Grass.
Psalm 19:1 — "The heavens declare the glory of God."
Get outside. Take a walk. Look up. Creation is preaching — are you listening?
John Calvin said, "The creation is the theater of God’s glory."
Hopes and Prayers for Coastlands Church
16. Be All About Jesus.
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." — Luke 24:27
Keep Jesus at the center of everything we preach, teach, sing, and serve.
"Jesus is not part of the story — he is the point of the story." — Tim Keller
Jesus isn’t a side project. He’s the point. Let’s not build a church around programs, trends, or personalities. Let’s build it around Christ.
17. Glorify God and bring good to the coast.
Psalm 97:1 "the Lord Reigns let the earth rejoice and let the many Coastlands be glad."
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." — Matthew 5:16
We’re here for more than Sunday services. We’re here to bless our cities. Let the coast rejoice because we exist.
18. Raise Up Leaders From Within.
"What you have heard from me... entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." — 2 Timothy 2:2
19. Grow in Generosity.
"You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way..." — 2 Corinthians 9:11
"A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God's." — Tim Keller
More margin = more mission. God gives us more so we can give more.
20. Embrace the Supernatural.
1 Thessalonians 5:19–20 — "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies."
The Spirit of God is not a vibe. He’s the power and presence of God among us.
A.W. Tozer said, "The Holy Spirit is not a mood or a force, but the living God active among us." Let’s be open. Let’s be humble. Let’s be hungry.
21. Make Disciples.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." — Matthew 28:19–20
Jesus didn’t say make converts. He said make disciples.
N.T. Wright reminds us that this is about formation, not just decisions.
22. Revival across the nations.
"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" — Psalm 85:6
Real revival looks like repentance, worship, hunger for Scripture, and an increased awareness of God's presence.
Leonard Ravenhill said, "The only reason we don't have revival is because we are willing to live without it."
23. Preacher preach the Word.
Acts 20:27 — "I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."
Let pulpits burn with the truth. Enough with watered-down sermons and motivational fluff. Preach the text. Let it speak.
Charles Spurgeon said, "Preach the word. Do not entertain the goats. Feed the sheep."
24. Kill the Love of Fame.
"That in everything he might be preeminent." — Colossians 1:18
We don’t need celebrity pastors. We need faithful shepherds. The platform is not the point — Jesus is.
John Piper said, "If Jesus is not the center, then nothing else will hold."
25. No King But Jesus.
Don’t give your allegiance to a political party. Jesus is King. Everything else bows.
Tim Keller said, "There are false gospels on the left and the right." Let’s stay centered on the true gospel.
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching..." — 1 Timothy 4:16
26. Set Tables, Not Thrones.
Philippians 2:3 — "In humility count others more significant than yourselves."
Make meals. Have conversations. Invite people you disagree with. Let your dinner table be spiritual warfare. The enemy wants you isolated. Jesus calls you to the table.
Dallas Willard said, "The table is where we catch a vision of what it means to live in the Kingdom of God."
Let’s Get After It in 2026
That’s it. 26 hopes and prayers — not just for your spiritual checklist but for your actual, daily, gritty walk with Jesus.
I’m not giving you a new law. I’m pointing to a better way — the way of Christ. My prayer is that something in this list lit a fire in you. Maybe it was conviction. Maybe it was clarity. Maybe it was courage.
Whatever it was — don’t delay. Don’t get distracted. Don’t shrug it off.
Take the next right step. Obey quickly. Move toward Jesus.
Let’s be people of scripture. People of prayer. People who serve, give, feast, forgive, and keep Jesus at the center of everything we do.
The Lord reigns.Let the earth rejoice.Let the many coastlands be glad. (Psalm 97:1)
Let’s make 2026 count — for the glory of God and the good of the coast.
— Sam Kiser
Let's make this year count. If you are going to make resolutions... then do just that. Make some commitments and then actually have the resolve to keep them. Under your own power, you will fail, but with the help of the Spirit, you don't have to just survive 2026; you can thrive.
This list is a list of hope and prayers. Pray them, pursue them with hope, and ask for God's help to persevere in them this year. I'm not trying to give you 26 steps to being awesome or some TED Talk with Bible verses sprinkled on top. This is about centering your life around the Gospel and fighting like hell to stay on course.
The Gospel is not advice. It’s news — good news. And news changes everything. The news of the Gospel demands that you reorient your life around it.
So below are 26 hopes and prayers — for you, for our church, and for the Church at large. Some are hard. Some are encouraging. All are shaped by Scripture and centered on Jesus.
The 26 Hopes & Prayers for 2026
1. Read Your Bible.
Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Pick it up. Get a plan. Read it with your church, your spouse, your friends. Read it slowly. Deeply. Let the Bible read you.
As John Piper said, "The goal of reading the Bible is not to master the text, but to be mastered by it." Open the Word and let it shape you.
I study the scriptures so I can learn how He talks so I can hear him when He speaks.
"My sheep know my voice and a stranger they will not follow." -Jesus (John 10)
2. Pray.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 — "Pray without ceasing."
Not just before meals or in a panic. Real prayer. Personal. Daily. Consistent. Honest.
And sometimes — silent. Learn to be still before God.
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." Our culture is noisy. Busy. Distracted. But stillness is resistance. Five minutes of silence in prayer might be the most spiritual thing you do all day.
Prayer is about communion, not performance. Speak. Listen. Wait. Repeat.
3. Enjoy Your Life.
1 Corinthians 10:31 — "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Joy isn’t worldly. Joy is worship. Stop living like a martyr. Stop believing you have to hate your life to be holy.
John Piper said it best: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
So take the trip. Laugh with your kids. Drink your coffee slow. Worship while you work.
4. Be Grateful.
Philippians 4:4–8 — Rejoice. Be gentle. Don’t be anxious. Pray with thanksgiving.
Gratitude is a weapon. Use it.
5. Get After It.
Colossians 3:23 — "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
This is the year to stop coasting. Stop blaming. Stop blaming the economy, your parents, your church, and your personality type. Start taking ownership. Do hard things. Show up early. Lift heavy. Be excellent. Be faithful.
Jocko Willink says, "Discipline equals freedom." So get disciplined.
6. Read & Listen to Things That Build Your Faith.
Run everything through the Philippians 4:8 filter. Is it true? Noble? Pure? Excellent? Praise-worthy?
If it doesn’t stir your affection for Jesus, why are you giving it your attention?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way: "The books you read today become the thoughts you think tomorrow." That goes for your podcasts, YouTube videos, and Netflix, too.
7. Forgive.
Ephesians 4:32 — "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Unforgiveness is a poison you drink, hoping someone else dies. Let it go. Forgive even if they’re not sorry. Forgive because you’ve been forgiven.
"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." — C.S. Lewis
8. Step Up.
1 Peter 4:10 — "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another."
Don’t sit on the bench. If God gave you gifts, use them. Serve. Lead. Mentor. Help.
9. Open Your Home.
Romans 12:13 — "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
Your home is a weapon for the Kingdom. Use it. You don’t need a bigger house — you need a bigger heart.
N.T. Wright said, "Hospitality is the practice of God's welcome."
10. Speak Life.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
_“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.."
Let your words build up, not tear down. Use your voice to encourage, not gossip. Compliment your kids. Affirm your spouse. Speak life.
11. Live Generously.
2 Corinthians 9:7 — "God loves a cheerful giver."
Give your time, your money, your energy. Give from the heart and not out of guilt, but as an act of worship.
12. Work on You and Stop Worrying About Your Brother.
Matthew 7:3 — "Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the log in your own?"
Jordan Peterson says, "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world." Let’s start there.
13. Embrace Accountability.
Proverbs 27:17 — "Iron sharpens iron."
Surround yourself with people who tell you the truth. Welcome it. Invite it.
14. Choose Joy Over Cynicism.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing..." — Romans 15:13
You’re not deep just because you're skeptical. Choose joy. Practice it. Protect it.
15. Go Touch Grass.
Psalm 19:1 — "The heavens declare the glory of God."
Get outside. Take a walk. Look up. Creation is preaching — are you listening?
John Calvin said, "The creation is the theater of God’s glory."
Hopes and Prayers for Coastlands Church
16. Be All About Jesus.
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." — Luke 24:27
Keep Jesus at the center of everything we preach, teach, sing, and serve.
"Jesus is not part of the story — he is the point of the story." — Tim Keller
Jesus isn’t a side project. He’s the point. Let’s not build a church around programs, trends, or personalities. Let’s build it around Christ.
17. Glorify God and bring good to the coast.
Psalm 97:1 "the Lord Reigns let the earth rejoice and let the many Coastlands be glad."
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." — Matthew 5:16
We’re here for more than Sunday services. We’re here to bless our cities. Let the coast rejoice because we exist.
18. Raise Up Leaders From Within.
"What you have heard from me... entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." — 2 Timothy 2:2
19. Grow in Generosity.
"You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way..." — 2 Corinthians 9:11
"A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God's." — Tim Keller
More margin = more mission. God gives us more so we can give more.
20. Embrace the Supernatural.
1 Thessalonians 5:19–20 — "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies."
The Spirit of God is not a vibe. He’s the power and presence of God among us.
A.W. Tozer said, "The Holy Spirit is not a mood or a force, but the living God active among us." Let’s be open. Let’s be humble. Let’s be hungry.
21. Make Disciples.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." — Matthew 28:19–20
Jesus didn’t say make converts. He said make disciples.
N.T. Wright reminds us that this is about formation, not just decisions.
22. Revival across the nations.
"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" — Psalm 85:6
Real revival looks like repentance, worship, hunger for Scripture, and an increased awareness of God's presence.
Leonard Ravenhill said, "The only reason we don't have revival is because we are willing to live without it."
23. Preacher preach the Word.
Acts 20:27 — "I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."
Let pulpits burn with the truth. Enough with watered-down sermons and motivational fluff. Preach the text. Let it speak.
Charles Spurgeon said, "Preach the word. Do not entertain the goats. Feed the sheep."
24. Kill the Love of Fame.
"That in everything he might be preeminent." — Colossians 1:18
We don’t need celebrity pastors. We need faithful shepherds. The platform is not the point — Jesus is.
John Piper said, "If Jesus is not the center, then nothing else will hold."
25. No King But Jesus.
Don’t give your allegiance to a political party. Jesus is King. Everything else bows.
Tim Keller said, "There are false gospels on the left and the right." Let’s stay centered on the true gospel.
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching..." — 1 Timothy 4:16
26. Set Tables, Not Thrones.
Philippians 2:3 — "In humility count others more significant than yourselves."
Make meals. Have conversations. Invite people you disagree with. Let your dinner table be spiritual warfare. The enemy wants you isolated. Jesus calls you to the table.
Dallas Willard said, "The table is where we catch a vision of what it means to live in the Kingdom of God."
Let’s Get After It in 2026
That’s it. 26 hopes and prayers — not just for your spiritual checklist but for your actual, daily, gritty walk with Jesus.
I’m not giving you a new law. I’m pointing to a better way — the way of Christ. My prayer is that something in this list lit a fire in you. Maybe it was conviction. Maybe it was clarity. Maybe it was courage.
Whatever it was — don’t delay. Don’t get distracted. Don’t shrug it off.
Take the next right step. Obey quickly. Move toward Jesus.
Let’s be people of scripture. People of prayer. People who serve, give, feast, forgive, and keep Jesus at the center of everything we do.
The Lord reigns.Let the earth rejoice.Let the many coastlands be glad. (Psalm 97:1)
Let’s make 2026 count — for the glory of God and the good of the coast.
— Sam Kiser
Sam Kiser
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