There is always something about reading the final chapters of Revelation in the days leading up to the new year that reignites my momentum for what is ahead. This year, I enjoyed looking back to the beginning of my Scripture journal to see how His Word shaped my thinking throughout 2025. In January of this year, I was studying the book of John chapter by chapter. If you have never done that, I highly recommend it! The thoughts from January 8th coincided perfectly with Revelation 20-22 this morning.
John 12:31-32 was in my passage read section.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of the world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
These are my reflections from that day: Humanity has a backward view of life, skewed by Satan. On that awful crucifixion day, it looked like the powerful were the ones with the hammers and swords; the ones who had turned Jesus over for death. But the Powerful One had given Himself over and held Himself to that cross. He was breaking Satan’s hold on all who thought they held power over Jesus. Truly, every one of them was in bondage to hatred, envy, and murder. Jesus granted rescue from Satan’s grip that day to everyone who looked up at Him dying on that cross. The power of darkness was broken by the power of His love.
Today’s entry began with Revelation 21:7-8.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
How many of us have felt the struggle of “overcoming” the obstacles of 2025? We, too, can have this world’s backward view of those struggles. It looks like the enemy is winning in the moment. It seems like the wicked are gaining ground while the righteous are hanging on for dear life. Watching Charlie Kirk die before a live audience seemed like a crushing blow in the moment on September 10, 2025. But God has an entirely different view of things from Heaven. He sees His people overcoming Satan’s hold on this earth by the power of sacrificial love. Every soul we point toward His Son increases His Kingdom. Those who stay faithful to Jesus, continually dying to themselves so that others can know Him, will enjoy the inheritance God has prepared for eternity. The power of darkness is still broken by the power of Jesus’s sacrificial love, but now it flows through His faithful followers.
If 2025 was a challenging year and you dread the one to come, take heart. Jesus overcame the power of darkness more than 2000 years ago. Fix your hope on the day that He promises will come. Just as every prophecy was fulfilled with His first coming, so will every promise He has made for His second. Continue the fight, not with the world’s weapons, but with the redeeming, sacrificial love of Jesus.
As you can see from the picture above, my word for the year is Hope. I would love to hear what word you have chosen for 2026. I pray that we can continue to encourage and provoke one another to good works in the year ahead! Happy New Year!
His Song in the Night 
First off, I love the family Christmas photo! 😍 I completed Revelation today for my Bible reading, and I ended it with such excitement and hope. “Come quickly,” has stayed in my heart. Last year was the first time I prayed about choosing a word for the year, and the one that kept popping up was “miracle.” I thought maybe I was self-imposing that word on myself with this health journey I’ve been on, but my life and the Lord’s hand in it, has been nothing short of miraculous. I thought the word was a way for me to look for the small miracles in the ordinary that we often overlook – and I have done that – but the Great Physician has done so much more. I just had a scan a few weeks ago and there’s no new cancer, nothing growing, no cancer they can currently see right now. My oncologist at Vanderbilt says she’s never had a patient like me (with the aggressive mutated cancer gene and being over four years since the stage 4 diagnosis). It’s only God. Working His daily miracles…🙌🏼❤️ I’ve been trying to decide whether I will pick a word again, been praying about it, but after reading your post, I think I should. It’s just a way for me to focus on an attribute of the Lord. Thank you for sharing, Erica! Happy New Year! Praying for the Lord’s blessings on you and your family this year. 🙏🏼💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am crying tears of joy to see your good news! I also love the testimony you shared with the word you chose last year! Thanks so much for sharing that. You are such an encouragement in my walk with the Lord!
LikeLiked by 1 person