There is a war going on inside of you.

And if you’ve ever felt that tension—I want to do what’s right, but I keep finding myself doing the very thing I hate—then welcome to the human experience.

More than that, welcome to the Christian life.

A lot of people think that struggle is proof something is wrong with their faith.
Paul would say the opposite.

The struggle is often proof that you’re actually alive.

Dead people don’t wrestle with sin.
Zombies don’t ask whether they’re pleasing God.

If there’s a conflict in you, it may be evidence that the Spirit of God has awakened something in you.

That’s Romans 7.

⸻

What the Law Actually Does

One of the big questions Paul answers is this:

If the law stirs all this up… is the law the problem?

His answer?
By no means.

The law is not sinful. It’s holy. It’s righteous. It’s good.

The problem isn’t the law.
The problem is me.

The law reveals sin. It brings it into the light. It shows us what actually pleases God and what doesn’t.

But it doesn’t stop there.

The law doesn’t just reveal sin—it actually exposes something deeper in us.
It shows that we don’t just fail… we resist.

Tell someone “don’t touch that,” and suddenly that’s the only thing they want to touch.
Put up a wet paint sign, and every guy in the room is like, how wet?

That’s not a law problem.
That’s a heart problem.

⸻

The Law Shows You the Problem… But Can’t Fix You

Think about it like this.

It’s like driving a car with a screen that shows you exactly where you’re headed.
It’s flashing warnings.
It’s telling you, you’re going the wrong way.

The law is that screen.

It tells the truth.
It reveals the danger.
It exposes the problem.

But it can’t turn the wheel.

That’s what Paul is getting at. The law shows you what’s wrong—but it cannot make you right.

⸻

There Are Two Yous Living in You

Romans 7 puts language to something every Christian knows:

There are two yous.

There’s the old you—your flesh, your patterns, your old desires.
And there’s the new you—the part of you awakened by the Spirit that actually wants God.

And these two are at war.

That’s why Paul says,
“I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

You know this if you’ve ever asked yourself:
•Why do I keep going back there?
•Why do I still struggle with this?
•Why do I react like that?

That tension doesn’t mean God is absent.
It often means God is at work.

⸻

Maturity Doesn’t Make You Impressive—It Makes You Honest

Here’s the truth most people miss:

Spiritual maturity doesn’t make you feel like you’ve arrived.
It makes you more aware that you haven’t.

The closer you get to Jesus, the more you realize He’s perfect—and you’re not.

You see this in Paul’s life:
•Early on: “I’m an apostle.”
•Later: “I’m the least of the saints.”
•Eventually: “I’m the chief of sinners.”

That’s not regression.
That’s clarity.

That’s what happens when you get close enough to the light to actually see.

⸻

You Don’t Just Have a Behavior Problem

Most of us treat sin like it’s just a behavior issue.

If I try harder…
If I get more disciplined…
If I just clean this up…

But Romans 7 says the problem is deeper.

It’s not just what you do—it’s what’s driving what you do.

You could say it like this:

The software is off… so the hardware keeps malfunctioning.

Something in the heart is bent.
And because it’s bent, life on the outside keeps drifting.

That’s why Paul cries out:

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?”

That’s actually the right question.

Because until you ask that, you’re probably still trying to fix yourself.

⸻

The Good News: No Condemnation

Romans 7 doesn’t end the story.

Romans 8 does.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

That changes everything.

If you are in Christ:
•You are not waiting for punishment
•You are not on probation
•You are not one mistake away from being cast out

There is no condemnation.

Why?

Because Jesus already took it.

So now the question shifts from:

“Am I going to be punished?”

to:

“How do I live a life that pleases my Father?”

⸻

You Need More Than Willpower—You Need the Spirit

Romans 7 shows you your inability.
Romans 8 introduces the answer:

The Holy Spirit.

The Christian life is not:
•Try harder
•Be better
•Get more disciplined

It’s life in the Spirit.

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you.

That’s not just theology.
That’s power.

And the question is not: Can the Spirit help you?
The question is: Have you asked Him to?

⸻

This Is About Freedom, Not Excuses

Grace is not permission to stay stuck.

Grace is the power of God to set you free.

Jesus didn’t just die to forgive you.
He rose to transform you.

You are not saved so you can stay bound to:
•the same patterns
•the same addictions
•the same fears
•the same old life

The Spirit has come to actually change you.

Not perfectly overnight.
But truly.
From the inside out.

⸻

The War Is Real—But So Is the Victory

So if you’re wrestling—don’t lose heart.

If you feel the tension…
If you hate your sin…
If you want to please God…

That may be evidence that you’re alive in Christ.

The war within is real.
But it’s not the end of the story.

You are not condemned.
You are not alone.
You are not stuck.

The Spirit of God is with you and in you.

So ask for help.
•Holy Spirit, fill me
•Holy Spirit, strengthen me
•Holy Spirit, free me
•Holy Spirit, teach me

Because the Christian life is not about pretending the struggle isn’t there…

It’s about learning that in Christ—and by His Spirit—
sin does not get the final word.

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

Hearts Blameless in Holiness

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13

“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
— 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 (ESV)

⸻

The Roots That Hold When Storms Come

A friend of mine recently lost a massive oak tree in his yard. It had stood tall for decades, but when the arborist checked its roots, they discovered rot beneath the surface. From the outside, it looked strong—but its roots couldn’t bear the next storm.

That’s what Paul is getting at when he prays that God would establish your hearts blameless in holiness.
He’s praying for roots—deep, steady, unseen strength anchored in Christ. Because faithfulness isn’t tested when life is calm. It’s revealed when the storm hits.

⸻

God Does the Establishing

Paul’s words remind us: it’s God who does the work.
He’s the one who establishes, strengthens, and secures us—not our own efforts, not our spiritual performance, not our favorite pastor or podcast.

Paul marvels that the believers in Thessalonica were thriving even after he left. They didn’t have a seminary-trained leader or an established institution. What they had was the Holy Spirit—and that was enough.
The same Spirit who hung the stars in place now anchors the human heart.

You can’t grow yourself holy. You can’t make your soul bear fruit by sheer effort.
Only God makes things grow.

⸻

Blameless Doesn’t Mean Perfect

The phrase “blameless in holiness” can sound intimidating. Who among us feels blameless?
But in Scripture, blameless doesn’t mean sinless perfection. It means wholeness—a life of integrity where what’s true in private matches what’s seen in public.

It’s when your faith is not a performance, but a posture of the heart.
Blamelessness is about wholeness of character, not flawlessness of record.

So the question isn’t, “Have I lived perfectly?”
It’s, “Am I allowing God to make me whole?”

⸻

Holiness Is Relational, Not Behavioral

Holiness isn’t about moral performance—it’s about relational devotion.
The word holy means set apart, different. But what makes God different isn’t just His moral purity—it’s His perfect love.

As theologian Gordon Fee put it, “Holiness is relational before it’s behavioral.”
It’s about being fully devoted to the God who fully loves you.

You can’t be holy without Him.
Holiness begins by being near to the Holy One—anchored in His love, shaped by His presence, and rooted in His Word.

⸻

From Invoice to Receipt

Many of us read the Bible like it’s an invoice—something we owe God.
But the gospel says it’s a receipt—proof that the debt has already been paid.

The holiness Paul describes is not something we achieve; it’s something we receive.
Jesus’ blood didn’t just wash away your guilt—it credited His righteousness to your account.

When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your failures.
He sees the perfection of His Son.

That’s what it means to be blameless in holiness.
Not that you’ve earned it—but that you’re covered by it.

⸻

Anchored in a Holy Love

God’s love doesn’t just forgive—it establishes.
It takes weak roots and drives them deep into His strength.
It transforms anxious striving into confident peace.
It makes the heart whole, steady, and holy.

When Paul prays for God to establish your hearts blameless in holiness, he’s not just praying for your survival—he’s praying for your stability, your joy, and your eternal confidence.

Because one day, you will stand before the God who made you—and if you’re in Christ, you will stand blameless.
Not because of your work, but because of His finished work.

⸻

A Prayer for Our Church

“Lord Jesus,
Establish our hearts in Your love.
Make us whole, blameless, and holy—not by our effort, but by Your grace.
Anchor us in You so that when the winds blow, our roots remain strong.
Help us love one another as You have loved us,
and keep us faithful until the day You return.
Amen.”

25 Hopes & Prayers for You & the Church in 2025

For you.

1.Read your Bible.

•Scripture: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
•Quote: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” — John Piper

2.Pray.

•Scripture: “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
•Quote: “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” — Oswald Chambers

3.Enjoy your life!

•Scripture: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

•Quote: “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” — C.S. Lewis

4.Be grateful.

Scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

•Quote: “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies.” — John Milton

5.Get after it!

•Scripture: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)

6.Read (Christian books—also Christian podcasts! Recommended list on the way).

•Scripture: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure… think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

7. Forgive.

•Scripture: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

8. Step up!

•Scripture: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)

9. Create a family rhythm.

•Scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

10. Speak life.

•Scripture: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

11. Live Generously.

•Scripture: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

12. Focus on the personal rather than the political.

•Scripture: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

•Quote: “Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.” — Jordan Peterson

13. Embrace accountability.

•Scripture: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

14. Wait (on the Lord).

•Scripture: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

15. Get off your phone! Go outside!

•Scripture: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)

•Quote: “The earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning

For Coastlands Church

16. Our Church is all about Jesus!

•Scripture: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

17. We continue to bring Glory to God and good to the coast.

•Scripture: “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)

18. Grow leaders from within.
•Scripture: “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

19. Grow in Generosity.
•Scripture: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11)

20. Embrace the supernatural.

Scripture:

•“My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

•“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)

•“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

•Quote: “The Spirit has not been given to us merely to make us feel good or to provide a spiritual high but to empower us for the work of the kingdom and to display the presence of God in tangible ways.” — Sam Storms

For the Global Church. 

21. Revival for the Global Church.

•Scripture: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6)

22. Preachers preach the Bible!

•Scripture: “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)

23. Church leaders would kill their love of fame!

•Scripture: “So that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18)

24. No King but King Jesus.

•Scripture: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

25. Tables not thrones.

•Scripture: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

•Quote: “The table is the place where we catch a vision of what it means to live in the kingdom of God.” — Dallas Willard