My 2026 Goal: Becoming Whole and Spiritually Mature

Twenty Twenty-Five – What a year! I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been a good year. I can personally testify that God has been so good to me. I’ve seen many prayers answered, experienced numerous triumphs, and undergone essential growth in multiple areas of my life. I’d also be lying if I said it hasn’t been a hard year. This year has continued to stretch me as I navigate waiting, faith, and transitions. But all in all, God has been good.

A scripture that I’ve thought about today is 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – “May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!”

God isn’t done with my story because the calendar year changed. I can write, and gloat about this year’s many achievements like landing my first full-time job, starting my MBA program, or many leadership successes – and as much as those mean so much to me, they are nothing compared to the person I’ve become this year.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been looking deep within, at my faults, challenges, successes, passions, and desires. I’ve been exploring who I am, and who I want to become at the soul level, all while understanding that God holds me to a standard of holiness, righteousness, and integrity. I’ve come to one simple conclusion: “Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.” – Psalm 51:6 CSB

Surely God desires integrity in my inner self… From church services to leadership meetings, train rides to my 8 am-4 pm job, MBA school work to juggling life responsibilities, I’ve pondered on my loss of remaining in touch with my inner self.

Integrity, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means “an unimpaired condition; soundness; the quality or state of being complete or undivided; completeness.” Essentially, integrity means WHOLE! As I referenced earlier, in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, God desires to make us holy and whole, lacking nothing at all! It’s easy to seek outward validation through achievements, relationships, and so on, while remaining incomplete. Wholeness isn’t achieved by what you do, but rather who you are.

My 2026 Goal

I made one goal for 2026. Of course, I have many other desires, wants, and some needs – but ultimately one goal. In 2026, I want to dwell with God. My Heavenly Father, my Friend, the Lover of my Soul, the One whose presence I can never have enough of, Elohim, my all in all, God, I want to dwell with Him. I want God to be my everyday, every hour priority. That’s it. I’m not saying this to be cliche. I’ve quickly found out that inasmuch as I need things from God and I may desire things from Him, there’s nothing I need more than Him. He is the answer, in every situation, in everything I face; it’s just God, and that’s enough.

In our busy schedules, long waiting seasons, or simply life in general, it’s so easy to lose sight of God being the top priority. It’s easy to proclaim Him as Lord, and yet He has no place in your days beyond a 15-minute devotional time in the morning. I’m tired of limiting my relationship with God to what seems convenient and what looks ideal, all while leaning on His grace and expecting Him to understand my mediocre pursuit of His face and His presence.

Additionally, I’ve found it to be so dangerous to have a robust public life with God, with a shallow private devotion to Him. What I mean by this is if you are in any spotlight, whether a leader at your church, key servant or volunteer, or even someone who represents God heavily in the marketplace or family (which I believe we all should be), those you lead may see your public proclamation of God and admire it, but it’s what happens in private that matters most. I found that the enemy fights you at the level you are supposed to be, and not the one you currently are. For example, I’m a core leader at my church, currently leading youth and young adults, meaning, when I’m fighting spiritually, which manifests itself naturally, I’m fighting at the level of my calling, not the level of my intimacy with God. It’s possible to be fighting heavyweight spiritual battles as a lightweight believer, and even worse, a lightweight leader.

In the year ahead, I’m not striving to “look spiritual” or gain the accolades of man. I desire for my life to bear witness to the goodness of God. I hope that I gain authority in the Spirit through my private devotional life, and He who sees in secret will reward openly. And this isn’t to say I wouldn’t love a relationship, car, or job promotion; however, to have so much earthly gain, without spiritual backing to support it, means that I will easily be sifted when a tempest wind comes – and the honest to God truth is they will always come.

So, my admonition to you, as we journey ahead into 2026, is simple – keep first things first. Remember, you can gain all your wants and deepest desires, and still miss out on pleasing the one who matters most. God isn’t impressed by all we do and all we gain if it’s done and received without Him. Ask yourself this hard question: Where do I want to be this time next year, in my inner self and in my relationship with God?

Scriptures to Stand on in 2026

1. “But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God, praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.” – Matthew 6:6 TPT

2. “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” – Psalms 92:12-13 NIV

3. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” – Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT