Stepping into 2026 is framed as a God‑given fresh start, a season for healing, unity, and the strengthening of faith. Isaiah 43:15–21 becomes the compass: God is the Holy One and King who “makes a way in the sea,” calls His people not to live chained to the past, and forms them to declare His praise. Three practices mark the path forward—remember, forget, and proclaim.
Remember: God’s people are urged to rehearse God’s proven track record—His grace, compassion, and mighty acts—so present faith is nourished by past faithfulness. The Red Sea stands as an anchor moment: if God did that, He can do this. The Psalms echo the charge to remember, and in seasons of exile-like discouragement, memory becomes fuel for endurance. This posture welcomes 2026 as a year to take God’s promises seriously and to let remembered mercies steady new obedience.
Forget: “Do not dwell on the past” does not cancel remembrance; it calls believers to refuse the mental clutter that suffocates hope—old sins Christ has forgiven, stale grudges, and negative scripts that stunt growth. Forgiven sin is not a home to live in; it’s a lesson to learn from and leave. God delights in mercy; He hurls iniquities into the depths, opening space for renewal, unity, and forward movement. Letting go is not denial—it’s trusting God’s verdict and choosing the freedom He gives.
Proclaim: Humanity’s purpose is worship—formed to declare God’s praise. Praise is not a mood; it’s a mandate that re-centers life around God’s perfection, not life’s perfection. Anticipating the Spirit’s movement, believers are called out of spectatorship into participation: discerning, praying, serving, and speaking the gospel. God makes a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland by giving the best gift—Himself. The church’s testimony in 2026 can be a light on a hill: lives that heal, reconcile, and point to Jesus as the only answer.
The invitation is clear: remember God’s faithfulness, forget what God has already buried, and proclaim Christ with word and life. As believers seek not just God’s help but God Himself, deserts become pathways and dry places turn to rivers. This is a year to be known for bringing praise to God and drawing people to Jesus.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Remember God’s proven deliverance. Memory isn’t nostalgia; it’s courage for today. Recalling the Red Sea and other anchor moments trains the heart to trust God’s character when circumstances feel impossible. Remembered grace converts fear into expectancy. Let history with God set the pace for fresh obedience. [24:42]
- 2. Forget the junk that shackles growth. Forgetting means refusing to dwell on forgiven sin, bitterness, and narratives that keep you small. Repent, reconcile, and then release it into God’s sea of forgetfulness. Lingering on the past fractures unity and blocks renewal. Faith chooses to let the Spirit write a new chapter. [36:46]
- 3. Anticipate God’s new paths ahead. God carves roads where maps end—through deserts of despair and delay. Newness is His initiative, not our cosmetics. Watch where the Spirit is moving and shift from spectator to participant. Expectation aligns effort with His living guidance. [43:59]
- 4. Seek more of God Himself. Beneath every request lies a deeper need: His presence. Streams in wastelands flow from communion, not from improved circumstances alone. Pursue Him in prayer, work, relationships, and witness, and dry ground will soften. The best gift God gives is always Himself. [45:32]
- 5. Praise God as your life aim. Humanity was formed to declare His praise—worship is vocation, not vibe. Praise centers on God’s perfection rather than life’s perfection, reframing joy and sorrow alike. Aim to be remembered for amplifying Jesus and drawing others to Him. Let reconciled relationships and sacrificial service be your doxology. [48:28]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [20:32] - Update and encouragement
- [21:56] - New season: 2026 vision
- [23:25] - Faith is a muscle
- [23:53] - Isaiah 43: Fresh start hope
- [24:42] - Remember: God makes a way
- [30:20] - Exile context and assurance
- [36:46] - Forget former things; let go
- [41:04] - Mercy that buries our sins
- [43:59] - God makes a way in wilderness
- [45:07] - What we need is more of God
- [48:28] - Formed to declare His praise
- [50:17] - Praise as mandate; gospel focus
- [54:01] - Christ’s invitation to new life