A Strong Start, a Fresh Reset, and a Year Walked With God

As the year unfolds, many of us find ourselves reflecting on how it began. Some started strong, clear vision, focused prayer, disciplined routines, and a fire to pursue everything God placed in their hearts. Others may feel like the year didn’t start quite the way they hoped. Life happened. Distractions crept in. Momentum slowed.

But here’s the good news: it’s not too late.
Not even close.

The year is still young, and as we step into the second month, we’re being invited into something powerful, a reset. A holy pause. A moment to realign our hearts, our plans, and our pace with heaven.

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
— Psalm 118:24

God is not bound by calendars, dates, or perfect starts. He is a God of grace, restoration, and fresh beginnings.

Every Month Is an Invitation to Consecrate Again

While January often gets all the attention, the truth is every month should begin with consecration. Each new month is an opportunity to check in with heaven and ask:

  • Lord, am I still walking in Your will?
  • Have I drifted from what You spoke?
  • Am I moving in obedience or just activity?
  • Have I replaced dependence on You with self-effort?

Consecration is not about perfection, it’s about posture. It’s choosing, again and again, to submit our plans, decisions, and desires to God.

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”
— Proverbs 16:3

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:6

When we consecrate each month to God, we realign our spirit, renew our focus, and recalibrate our steps to walk in rhythm with Him. So as we’re entering February, let’s walk in, hand-in-hand with the Spirit.

This Is a Year of Walking With the Spirit

This year, we are not walking ahead of God, or lagging behind Him. We are walking with the Spirit.

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25

Walking with the Spirit means we trust God’s leading even when the path isn’t fully clear. It means we respond in obedience, not fear. It means we are sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His timing.

We are not ruled by pressure, panic, or performance, we are led by peace.

A Kingdom Mindset and Dominion Living

This year, we are also embracing a kingdom mindset.

A kingdom mindset understands that we are not victims of circumstances, we are heirs of the Kingdom of God. Through Christ, we have been given authority and dominion, not to dominate people, but to steward our lives well under God’s rule.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image… and let them have dominion…”
— Genesis 1:26

“Behold, I give you authority…”
— Luke 10:19

Jesus restored what was lost and empowered us to walk in authority through Him. That means we don’t just react to life, we rule wisely, guided by the Spirit and anchored in truth.

Dominion living looks like:

  • Speaking life instead of fear
  • Making decisions from faith, not anxiety
  • Taking responsibility with wisdom
  • Trusting God while doing our part

This is not a year of passivity.
This is a year of intentional, Spirit-led action.

Daily Declarations for the Year Ahead

As we move forward, we speak what God has already spoken. This year, we refuse to sit back and let life just happen to us. We are not passive participants in life, we are kingdom citizens ruling with our tongues. We’re speaking life instead of fear, faith instead of doubt, and God’s Word over every situation. We decree what heaven has already spoken, knowing that our words carry power and authority in Christ.

Below are daily declarations you can speak throughout the year, standing firmly in the dominion Christ has given you:

Family & Relationships
I declare that my household serves the Lord. My family is covered, unified, and walking in the peace of God. Love, forgiveness, and understanding flow freely in my relationships. (Joshua 24:15, Psalm 133:1)

Marriage & Future Marriage
I declare that my marriage (or future marriage) is ordained by God, rooted in love, submission, and honor. What God has joined together cannot be divided. My marriage is sealed by the blood against conflict, disagreement, and disunity. My marriage flourishes and brings glory to God. (Mark 10:9, Ephesian 5:25-26)

Health & Well-being
I declare that my body is aligned with God’s design. I walk in strength, healing, and vitality. Sickness and infirmity have no authority over me. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and aligns with God’s healing power. By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed and made whole and free from sicknesses and diseases. (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9)

Finances & Provision
I declare that I lack nothing, because the Lord give power to make wealth. God is my provider, and I steward my resources with wisdom, discipline, and generosity. I walk in kindgom wealth and flourish like a palm tree. (Deut. 8:18, Psalm 23:1, Phillipians 4:19)

Career & Calling
I declare favor, clarity, and excellence in my work. Doors open that no man can shut, and I walk in purpose wherever God has placed me. My steps are ordered by the Lord and the works of my hands are blessed! (Psalm 37:23, Psalm 90:17)

Ministry & Assignment
I declare that I am chosen, appointed, and fruitful. I fulfill every assignment God has given me with power, boldness, and obedience. I declare that I am effective, fruitful, and obedient in every assignment God has entrusted to me. (John 15:16, Matthew 28:19)

Mind, Emotions & Mental Health
I declare that my mind is renewed by the Word of God. Peace guards my heart and mind, and anxiety has no authority over me. I declare peace over my mind, joy in my spirit, and rest in my soul. Anxiety does not rule me, Christ does! (Romans 12:2, Phillipians 4:19)

Faith & Spiritual Growth
I declare that my faith is growing stronger daily. I hear God clearly and obey Him fully. I declare that I walk in the authority Christ has given me. I overcome by faith, I stand firm in truth, and I rule in life through Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:19, Romans 5:17)

Purpose & Destiny
I declare that my life aligns with God’s divine purpose. Every plan of the Lord concerning me will come to pass. (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139:16)

Time, Discipline, & Stewardship
I declare that I redeem the time and walk in wisdom. I steward every resource God has entrusted to me with excellence and obedience. (Ephesian 5:16, Luke 16:10)

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”
— Proverbs 18:21

A Final Encouragement

Whether you started this year strong or feel like you’re just finding your footing, remember this: God is not finished with you! Each month is a fresh invitation to reset, recommit, and realign.

And as you walk this year with the Spirit, ruling with wisdom, trusting God deeply, and living with a kingdom mindset, don’t forget the power of daily communion with Him. Want to hear God speak? READ THE WORD! Want to know God plans for your life? READ YOUR BIBLE! Be intentional about connecting with God through his word and pray DAILY!

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
— Joshua 1:8

If you’re looking for a consistent way to reflect, pray, reset, and check in with heaven daily, I invite you to grab my journal:

Daily Chats With Christ: 365 Days of Prayer Journaling

It’s designed to help you slow down, hear God’s voice, process life with Him, and stay anchored throughout the year.

Available now on Amazon, search Daily Chats With Christ.

It’s not too late to begin again.
It’s not too late to reset.
And it’s never too late to walk closely with God.

Let’s move forward -intentionally, prayerfully, and boldly -together!

Love you family!

Merry Christmas – Jesus, Our Reason, Our Hope, Our Future!


Merry Christmas, dear friends! My heart is full as I write this. We have reached the end of 2025, not by strength, not by luck, but purely by the goodness, mercy, and sustaining grace of God. If you’re reading this, you are a testimony. Through the highs, lows, victories, delays, lessons, prayers, tears, and laughter, God has kept you.

Christmas reminds us of the greatest truth: Jesus is the reason for the season.

Not the lights.

Not the gifts.

Not even the gatherings.

Jesus, God wrapped in flesh, came to dwell among us so that we might have life, purpose, forgiveness, and eternal hope. Christmas is the love of God demonstrated, the arrival of the Savior, and the unfolding of redemption’s story.

As we celebrate His birth, we also pause and acknowledge this:

We did not carry ourselves through 2025.

God did! *Insert Praise Break!*

As we wrap up 2025, we are not crawling into a new year, we are entering 2026 with vision, purpose, and strategy. God has invested far too much in you for you to shrink back now.

2026 is not the year to hold back.

It is the year to pour out what God has placed in you:

  • gifts
  • ideas
  • messages
  • businesses
  • creativity
  • service
  • compassion
  • prayers

We are not entering 2026 casually, we are entering on assignment.

Jesus modeled this life for us. He never wandered aimlessly. He never wasted time. He never misused resources. He was mission-focused yet deeply people-aware, intentional, compassionate, strategic, and obedient to the Father’s will.

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” – John 9:4

In 2026, we emulate Christ.

We are:

  • intentional
  • strategic
  • disciplined
  • prayerful
  • focused

No more saying yes to everything just because it looks “good.”

No more pouring into places God didn’t send us.

No more wasting time, energy, money, or anointing.

In 2026, we are being spent for Jesus – wisely, purposefully, and joyfully.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

“Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14

Jesus lived 33 years yet fulfilled eternal purpose.

He:

  • knew His assignment
  • walked closely with the Father
  • set boundaries
  • rested intentionally
  • loved deeply
  • served sacrificially

He stewarded time perfectly. He valued people meaningfully. He was never rushed yet never idle.

As disciples of Christ, we don’t just admire His life, we imitate it.

“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:6

Here are prayerful, practical ways to step into 2026 with intention:

Pray for clarity – Ask God:

“What are You calling me to build, release, or nurture in 2026?”

“What should I lay down?”

“Where should my time truly go?”

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” –  Proverbs 3:6

Write the vision – Put it on paper. Name it. Define it! 

  • goals
  • habits to break
  • habits to build
  • faith targets
  • financial plans
  • health priorities
  • relationship boundaries

“Write the vision and make it plain…” 

– Habakkuk 2:2

Develop strategy – not just wishes

Vision without structure drifts.

Break goals down into:

  • quarterly plans
  • monthly focuses
  • weekly actions

Remove distractions

2026 is not the year of “busy for no reason.”

It’s the year of purposeful movement.

Surround yourself with purpose-pushers

Not everyone is assigned to your next level. Some people are tied to your last season.

Speak these out loud:

  • I will not waste my life, I will walk in purpose.
  • My time, energy, and resources will honor God.
  • I am disciplined, focused, and led by the Holy Spirit.
  • I pour out what God has placed in me.
  • 2026 will be a year of divine alignment and strategy.
  • I live like Christ, intentional, loving, and mission-minded.

Meditate on these as you prepare your heart:

  • Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
  • Habakkuk 2:2 – “Write the vision; make it plain…”
  • Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as unto the Lord.
  • Ephesians 5:15–16 – “Be careful how you live… making the most of every opportunity.”
  • Philippians 3:14 – “I press toward the mark for the prize…”

Let these truths shape your mindset for the new year.

I pray you experience, the peace of Christ, the joy of His presence, the warmth of His love, and the strength of His Spirit

May your home be filled with laughter and light. May your heart be full of gratitude and May your life overflow with Jesus.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a glorious end of 2025. May 2026 be the year you refuse to shrink, refuse to waste time, and boldly walk in everything God called you to be.

Let’s plan, prepare, pray and move with heaven! 

As we prepare our hearts, our plans, and our purpose for 2026, one of the greatest commitments we can make is to stay rooted in daily communion with God.

Transformation doesn’t happen by accident, it happens through consistent time in His presence, reflection, prayer, and intentional alignment with His voice.

That is why I created my journal: Daily Chats With Christ: 365 Days of Prayer Journaling

This journal was born out of my own journey of learning to slow down, sit with God, process life through prayer, and invite Him into every moment, every decision, and every season.

It is a safe space to:

  • Pour out your heart before the Lord
  • Reflect on His goodness and guidance
  • Capture prayers, breakthroughs, and lessons
  • Write vision, gratitude, faith declarations, & testimonies
  • Strengthen intimacy with Christ, one day at a time

This journal will help you:

✔ Build a consistent prayer and reflection rhythm

✔ Stay spiritually grounded throughout the year

✔ Process emotions, burdens, and victories with God

✔ Grow in clarity, wisdom, and discernment

✔ Align your plans with God’s will, not pressure or comparison

2026 is a year of purpose and purpose flourishes in the presence of God. If you’re believing God for growth, healing, discipline, or deeper intimacy with Him, this journal is a beautiful companion for your spiritual journey.

You can find Daily Chats With Christ: 365 Days of Prayer Journaling on Amazon and I’d love for you to grab a copy for yourself (and one for a friend who is growing alongside you!).

✨ Available now on Amazon – just search: Daily Chats With Christ: 365 Days of Prayer Journaling

Choosing Joy!

Here we are, the -ber months are upon us: September, October, November, December. For many, these months bring cozy feelings of fall leaves, holiday gatherings, and a sense of anticipation. But for others, this season can feel heavy. The days get shorter, the nights longer, and a creeping weight known as seasonal depression (or seasonal affective disorder) tries to set in.

Maybe you feel it, you know – the lack of motivation, the sadness that lingers, or the pressure of the year ending without seeing everything you hoped come to pass. Maybe you’re asking yourself: “Where did the year go? Why do I still feel stuck? Why didn’t I accomplish my goals?” Or you see things happening for others around you but nothing seems to be working for you.

I want to remind you of something powerful: sadness may try to creep in, but you can choose joy. And not just fleeting joy, but the kind that sustains, strengthens, and uplifts no matter the season, the joy that comes from Christ.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10
“In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” — Psalm 16:11

Joy isn’t an emotion that comes and goes with circumstances. Joy is found in one person alone – Jesus Christ. And when we anchor ourselves in Him, joy becomes more than a feeling; it becomes a weapon to combat emotions, depression and the enemy!

It’s tempting to fight seasonal depression with surface-level fixes alone; cozy drinks, pretty decor, vacations, or self-care routines. While those things are good, they can only touch the surface. They don’t heal the heart. They don’t silence the thoughts that keep you awake at night or that tries to cripple or paralyze you in the day.

But Jesus does.

Only Christ can get to the root of despair and lift the spirit from heaviness to hope. Scripture calls Him “the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). The world offers distractions, but Christ offers deliverance.

Dependency on Him looks like:

  • Running to Him daily for strength.
  • Speaking His Word when the enemy whispers lies.
  • Leaning on His presence when loneliness strikes.
  • Trusting His timing when disappointment hits.

The truth is, without Christ, we try to manage depression in our own strength. With Christ, we don’t just manage it – we overcome it!

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

Be intention about your thoughts and emotions. I often find myself stopping mid mind-chatter and saying “Shut up devil.” in addition to combating with scripture. I’m also a silver-lining kinda girl so I try to think of the positive in the situation rather than my lack – you know – glass half full thoughts. This also creates gratitude concerning my current situation rather than complaining or feelings of saddness about what I’m waiting on.

Ways to Overcome

This is where true victory lies.

  1. Daily Word intake. Even a single verse can reset your heart and mind. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105
  2. Worship through the heaviness. Darkness cannot survive in an atmosphere of worship. Dance it out! Worship it out! Praise it out!
  3. Pray earnestly. Don’t hold back. Tell God exactly how you feel – no eloquent speech required. He’s big enough to handle your truth.
  4. Speak life daily. Refuse to partner with despair, declare God’s words and promises over yourself.
  5. Remember community. Sometimes healing comes in shared burdens. Partner with someone who can pray you through.

God created our bodies and minds, so it’s wise to care for them practically while leaning into Him spiritually.

Practical ways to overcome;

  1. Get moving. Gentle walks, stretching, dancing or exercise help release endorphins and fight sadness.
  2. Seek light. Shorter days mean less sunlight – try to get outside when you can or sit near windows. Oh and turn on the lights! Darkness cannot comprehend the light.
  3. Stay connected. Depression isolates, but joy is found in community. Call a friend, join a Church or Fellowship, or attend a Bible study.
  4. Rest intentionally. Create a routine that gives your body and mind true rest – not avoidance.
  5. Create small joys. Add little things that spark delight: a new candle, uplifting music, journaling, date nights with friends, shopping or a gratitude list.

Declare Over Yourself

Speaking declarations out loud is powerful because our words carry life. When we declare God’s truth, we’re not just reminding ourselves; we’re building faith, breaking agreement with lies, and shifting the very atmosphere around us. Even Jesus spoke the Word out loud when He faced temptation, showing us that victory comes when truth is voiced, not just thought. Declarations train our spirit to expect God’s promises and invite His presence into our daily lives. It’s not about positive thinking, it’s about aligning our hearts, minds, and environments with the living Word of God.

Speak these out loud until your spirit aligns with the truth:

  • “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
  • “This heaviness is not my portion, Jesus is my portion.”
  • “I will not be overcome by sadness; I am an overcomer through Christ Jesus.”
  • “I choose joy, peace, and hope today because Christ lives in me.”
  • “This season will not defeat me, God is faithful in every season.”

What you listen to also helps. Here are some powerful messages to soak in as you depend on Christ for joy:

Let these words wash over you. Don’t just listen once, play them often until the Word of God replaces the lies of the enemy.

Beloved, as we step into these -ber months, don’t let depression steal your joy. Don’t let the year’s end trick you into thinking you’ve lost. With Christ, every season has purpose and there’s victory on all sides!

Remember, creation itself is waiting for your light to shine (Romans 8:19). And the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11). That means joy is not optional, it’s your inheritance in Christ.

This season, let’s not just survive – let’s thrive! Let’s lean on Jesus, depend on His joy, and watch Him change our garment of heaviness into a garment of praise.

I choose joy.
I choose Jesus.
And I pray you will too!

Life Has Been Life’ing… But God Has Been God’ing!

taps mic again… Ummm, Hi! Is this thing still on? Anyone still out there?

If you’ve found your way back to my little corner of the internet, thank you. Truly. It’s been a minute (okay, maybe more than a minute). But life… oh, life has been living! I’ve walked through seasons of deep joy and deeper pain, experienced victories worth dancing over and losses that left me speechless. There have been growing pains, stretching moments, answered prayers, and a few “Lord, why?” cries in between.

And yet, through it all – God has still been God’ing!
Faithful, constant, unchanging, and endlessly patient with me.

When I reflect on why I created this space in the first place, that purpose still burns in my heart: I wanted a place where we could be real about faith, about the messy days and the mountaintop moments. A space where authenticity isn’t just welcomed but necessary. A place to say, “Yes, I love Jesus and yes, some days it’s hard.”

And now I’m back, older, hopefully wiser, and definitely with more testimonies. And I feel led to share them, because someone out there needs to hear this:

It’s never too late to pick back up what God placed in your heart.
Maybe you’ve put down a dream, a blog, a ministry, a creative project, a calling. Maybe life got in the way, fear crept in, or disappointment wore you down. Trust me, I get it, trust me I’ve lived it. But hear this:

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

God sees you, even when it feels like no one else does.
Your quiet tears, whispered prayers, and even the days you could barely muster a prayer at all—He sees it all.

“You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.” – Psalm 139:3

Small steps are still steps.
Don’t underestimate the power of starting again, even slowly. Progress isn’t always loud; sometimes it’s a whisper of faith.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” – Zechariah 4:10

It’s okay to begin again differently.
Maybe God is calling you to pivot, refine, or build or rebuild in a fresh way. Starting again doesn’t always mean picking up exactly where you left off – even though that’s okay too; sometimes it means starting better, deeper, and wiser.

You don’t have to be perfect to be purposeful.
Your broken places and your scars are part of your testimony, and guess what? God can use every piece of your story.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

The world needs what God put inside of you.
There’s someone waiting on the other side of your obedience. Your “yes” could be the very thing that sparks hope, healing, or faith in someone else.

“The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!” — Romans 8:19 (TPT)

Isn’t that beautiful? Creation itself is holding its breath, waiting for you, for what God placed in you to show up, speak out, and shine. Your gifts, your testimony, your creativity, your trials, your story, they’re not just about you. They’re about the people God has called you to reach and bless.

You’re never alone.
Even when it feels like you’re starting over from scratch, the Holy Spirit walks with you in every brave decision to keep going.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20

As for me, I’m picking this back up with the same passion and purpose that made me start, and even more, because now I’ve seen God hold me in valleys I never imagined I’d walk through.

So, come along (again). Let’s keep it real. Let’s talk about faith when it’s sweet and faith when it’s hard. Let’s explore the struggles and the triumphs: body image, relationships, depression, answered prayers, delayed answers, purpose, healing, and holiness. Let’s remind each other of the joy and freedom that truly comes when we lay it all at Jesus’ feet.

And to whoever needs it today:

“Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” – Job 8:7

Pick it back up, sis. Pick it back up, bro. Dust it off. Write again, create again, build again, dream again. God is still God’ing, and He’s not done with your story.

I’m excited (and yes, still a little nervous) to share what I’ve learned along the way. And I pray it blesses you as much as it’s blessing me to finally say:

I’m back with a reminder to start with Jesus. Laugh through it. Love like Him. Repeat, because the best days begin and end with Jesus.

Let’s keep going, together by the grace of God!

Love always,
Sally