January 1, 2026
Dear Central Church,
Happy New Year!
As we step into a brand-new year, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. We promise ourselves that this will be the year things finally change—health improves, priorities shift, faith grows deeper. Yet by mid-January, many resolutions quietly fade away.
Author James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, offers a helpful insight: big life changes rarely come from one bold decision. They come from small, consistent habits practiced over time. Tiny choices, repeated daily, shape who we become.
This clearly reminds us that we don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our habits. In other words, simply wanting change isn’t enough. Real transformation happens when our daily rhythms align with what we value most. That’s true in every area of life—and it’s especially true in our spiritual lives.
As we begin this new year, I want to invite you to think less about spiritual “resolutions” and more about spiritual core habits. Habits like worshiping together regularly, reading Scripture, serving in ministry, giving generously, and intentionally investing our time for the Lord may seem small on their own. But over time, these practices create space for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in us. They shape our hearts, deepen our faith, and position us to be used by God in meaningful ways.
Here are some of my “core habits” that I believe God uses to make me more like Jesus:
1) Lauren and I use a spiritual formation app called “Lectio 365.” We try to do the daily prayer first thing in the morning before anything else gets in the way.
2) We also have set up a recurring gift to the church. It corresponds with our salary schedules and ensures that we put God first in our finances before anything else. If you haven’t already, you can do so in our online giving portal.
3) I always make the bed. If I have a crazy day, at least I can go home knowing one thing is the way it’s supposed to be!
Ok, two out of those three directly make me more like Jesus…not sure about the bed thing, but it can’t hurt!
The good news is this: you don’t have to do everything at once. Start small. Stay faithful. Trust that God delights in steady obedience. As we practice these core habits together, I believe we will see God bring about big changes—not only in our own lives, but in our church and in our community.
Happy New Year. May God bless you as you walk faithfully with Him, one small step at a time. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we return to our regular schedule!
Until He's Finished,
Pastor Mark