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

Hey friends &mdash; welcome to 2026! I&rsquo;m so glad you&rsquo;re here, and I&rsquo;m really excited about what God has for us as we step into a brand-new year together. This month, we&rsquo;re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it&rsquo;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&rsquo;m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen &mdash; rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to &ldquo;get it all together&rdquo; by January 1. We&rsquo;re going to start with Philippians 1:3&ndash;11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He&rsquo;s not finished.
Then I&rsquo;m going to share six words I&rsquo;ve been praying over for our community &mdash; six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don&rsquo;t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don&rsquo;t have to force it &mdash; but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
What We Cover:&nbsp;
1. Confidence is available to you &mdash; 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&rsquo;t have to rely on your own strength to grow this year &mdash; you can rely on His.
2. You don&rsquo;t grow to earn God&rsquo;s love &mdash; you grow because you already have it
This is so important: we&rsquo;re saved by grace, and spiritual growth is our response to that grace. We&rsquo;re not proving anything. We&rsquo;re simply saying, &ldquo;God, I want more of You.&rdquo;
3. January can be a month of spiritual discernment, not pressure
I want you to feel free to take your time. The goal isn&rsquo;t to pick a word immediately &mdash; it&rsquo;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 &ldquo;word for the year&rdquo; isn&rsquo;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:&nbsp;<a href="https://nicoleunice.kit.com/newyear">https://nicoleunice.kit.com/newyear</a>

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How To Study The Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

How to Choose Your One Word for 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/333182be-a0a8-4019-88e4-b3c801324290/transcript

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