The One Thing

(And The Only Thing You Need for Your 2026)

*Happy New Year 2026!!

A New Year Descends!

Hello, dear reader friends!

As I continue to rest my “trigger thumb”, this message will be short and sweet :).

The New Year is weighing down on us, and if you’re anything like me, your inbox is full of suggestions for how you can make this your BEST YEAR EVER:

New and better attempts to set goals for exercise, sleep, health, diet, productivity, work, cleaning, writing, creating, producing, cooking, and anything and everything you can do!

But, after 60 years around the sun, I’ve realized those goals don’t often materialize much past January, and can be unrealistic and become obsolete. (Then we feel bad, and try again at the beginning of the next new year, only for that cycle to repeat.)

The One Thing Needed

In a Martha culture, may I suggest that only one thing is needed for your 2026:

The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha,” (insert your own name here!) “you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(Luke 10: 41-42, CSB)

Remember Mary’s choice? Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his teaching. And Jesus Himself commended her for this.

As a Martha-type myself, the one ‘feeling responsible’ for how everything is going to get done and accomplished, this can be hard to take.

But Jesus reminds us, in our stress and distress, that there is only one thing REALLY needed, no matter how busy our day or year becomes. . . to set aside time to be with Him.

That’s it! Easy-peasy, right? ;)

Easy-peasy, right??

Easy, or Not?

Well, easy in theory. As a “Martha,” I have to continually remind myself that the time I spend with the Lord—soaking in His love, presence, and teaching—IS the most important thing! (And not my TO DO list).

So that’s why my WOTY (word of the year) is COMMUNE. Commune with the Lord. First and foremost, as much as possible, in the dailies of life. Because for us “Martha types”, it’s NOT easy, and we DO need to be reminded to make and take the time to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Schedule it in, get up earlier, stay up later, do whatever it takes to prioritize your time with HIm, because that is how we will reap the rewards of His wisdom and strength.

Nothing else is needed, because when we get that piece with Jesus right, everything else tends to fall into place.

And I figured today, this last and then first day of the year, would be a great day for Jesus to remind us all of this:

“He (Jesus) said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

(Matt. 22:37, CSB)

Seeking time with Jesus

Our One Thing Needed

So, that’s it! A gentle reminder that The One Thing Needed for your best year, regardless of the challenges or blessings that may come—

It’s Jesus ;)

And if you have Him, you will have everything else you need.

May God bless your coming year!

A special Worship Song for your new year:

All Glory Be to Christ by Kings Kaleidoscope (to the Scottish tune of Auld Lang Syne)

*Photos by 1) Woot Danacker and 2) Pablo Arroyo and 3) Ben White on Unsplash

**The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.