2026 Halfway Check-up

Hi Ladies,

Happy halfway through 2026!! It’s fitting that we rehearse and check up on our goals for this year as a women’s ministry. The Lord clearly directed us to focus on abiding in Him, and aren’t you so grateful? It’s been a needed study and wonderful blessing for me personally, and I trust for you too. But since it’s easy to forget, I wanted to take this week to remind us all of some of the key truths.

To abide means to remain, to dwell, to stay, to continue. To do that in Christ is possible for all believers since we are placed in Christ - united to Him - at the very moment of salvation. Our union with Him is fixed, and it can never be broken. Praise Him! But our communion with Him takes work, as we all know…both from Scripture and from experience!

Scripture tells us to abide (to remain, dwell, stay, continue):

- in Christ (John 15:4; 1 John 2:28)

- in His Word/commandments (John 8:31, 15:7; 1 John 2:24)

- in love (John 15:9; 1 John 4:16)

And these three are not unrelated. In fact, the passages demonstrate that they are different ways of referring to the same thing. (We looked at this in our study of John 15:1-11 earlier in the year). So what does this look like practically? Or better yet, how can we check up on ourselves to see if we are progressing in this goal this year? 

Here are a few questions to prayerfully think through. I’m praying that these will both encourage and exhort us toward more through the rest of 2026, and beyond! 

- Am I quicker to filter things I hear and think through what I know about my God? 

- Am I more at peace, even if things around me are stormy? 

- Am I able to speak truth more readily? (Either to myself or others?) 

- Do I have increasing capacity and desire to love others, especially those who are harder to love? 

- Am I seeing His strength shine through me more, even in my weakness? 

This list is not exhaustive. And it is not designed to condemn. Our God is so incredibly patient with us. And He has given us everything we need to do what He desires us to. We just need to remind ourselves of this frequently, and then act on it! 

So this email is a check-up for us all. We are here to spur one another on in this great goal. Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would not grow weary in this eternally worthwhile pursuit, and let’s find ways to help each other stay the course. 

Perhaps you could ask or share with someone how things are going in this area! I need you. We need each other. Let’s continue to abide, together. For His glory, and our good! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna