Today we’re continuing our One Word 2026 series, and I’m offering you two more invitations to consider for the year ahead: grateful and peaceful. My heart for this series is simple—I want you to listen for what God might be forming in you as you look back on 2025 and step into 2026 with intention. Gratitude can feel “easy” in theory, but it actually takes attention and practice, because it’s so easy to drift into discontent without realizing it. And peace isn’t about having a quiet, trouble-free life—it’s the kind of inner calm Jesus gives that can hold steady even when your soul feels disturbed. We’ll look at Luke 17 (the one healed leper who comes back to give thanks) and Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel (how she leaves God’s presence with peace before her circumstances change), and I’ll invite you to imagine what might happen if you learned to give thanks in every circumstance—and to bring your turbulence to God so He can exchange it for His peace.

What I'll Share:

• A clear picture of gratitude as a posture and discipline—not just a personality trait or a fleeting feeling.

• A challenge to notice the “opposite spirit” of gratitude (discontent, dissatisfaction, thanklessness) and how easily we slip into it without attention.

• A practical invitation to give thanks in every circumstance, including the hard or unwanted parts of life, by asking God how He might be shaping you through them.

• A fresh understanding of gratitude as a catalyst for love, creating space in your heart for compassion and care for others.

• A biblical framework for peace as “freedom from disturbance”—not merely the absence of fear or trouble.

• A way to recognize agitation in your body and soul (tight jaw, tense shoulders, restless energy) and treat it as an invitation to bring your heart to God.

• Encouragement from Hannah’s story that peace can be real before answers arrive—because peace comes from God’s presence, not perfect outcomes.

• Two simple affirmations you can practice all year if either word becomes your focus for 2026.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• Philippians 1

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18

• Luke 17

• John 14:27

• 1 Samuel 1–2

Resources Mentioned

• Free One Word 2026 reflection guide: Nicoleunice.com/newyear/

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As we begin a brand-new year, I want to help you slow down and listen for God’s invitation in your life. In this episode, we kick off our One Word 2026 series — a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you’ve been and discern how God may be inviting you to grow in the year ahead.

I introduce the heart behind choosing a spiritual “one word,” not as a goal to achieve, but as a posture to receive. We explore two of the six words I’ll be offering this month — confidence and diligence — and look at how Scripture invites us to grow, not by relying on our own strength, but by trusting God’s faithfulness over time.

Through biblical stories, key verses, and honest reflection, this episode is about beginning the year grounded, hopeful, and open — confident in who God is, and willing to keep showing up faithfully, even when growth feels slow.

Main Takeaways:

Listeners will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of what “One Word 2026” is and how it can guide spiritual growth throughout the year

• Why spiritual confidence is rooted in Christ, not self-assurance or performance

• How insecurity can hold us back, and how God invites us into a settled, faithful confidence

• Why diligence matters in long seasons, especially when progress feels slow or unseen

• How perseverance fits into God’s formation process, not as striving, but as faithful presence

• Biblical examples of confidence and diligence through the lives of David and Nehemiah

• Simple affirmations that can shape daily prayer and intention throughout 2026

Bible Verses Referenced

• Philippians 1:3–11

• Philippians 1:6

• 2 Corinthians 3:4–5

• 1 Samuel 17

• 1 Samuel 17:37

• 1 Samuel 17:45

• Galatians 6:9

Resources Mentioned:

• One Word 2026 Reflection Guide
  NicoleUnice.com/newyear

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Hey friends — welcome to 2026! I’m so glad you’re here, and I’m really excited about what God has for us as we step into a brand-new year together. This month, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year.

In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.

Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.

What We Cover:

1. Confidence is available to you — because God is the one doing the work

One of the biggest themes in Philippians 1 is this: God finishes what He starts. So you don’t have to rely on your own strength to grow this year — you can rely on His.

2. You don’t grow to earn God’s love — you grow because you already have it

This is so important: we’re saved by grace, and spiritual growth is our response to that grace. We’re not proving anything. We’re simply saying, “God, I want more of You.”

3. January can be a month of spiritual discernment, not pressure

I want you to feel free to take your time. The goal isn’t to pick a word immediately — it’s to listen and let God guide you.

4. One Word is a simple practice that helps you pay attention to God all year long

A “word for the year” isn’t magic, but it can be really powerful. It helps you notice what God is doing, focus your prayers, and stay spiritually anchored as life gets busy.

Resources Mentioned: Free One Word 2026 Companion Guide

If you want to walk through this with me in a more intentional way, I put together a free companion guide you can download here: https://nicoleunice.kit.com/newyear

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.