January has a way of pulling us forward before we’ve ever slowed down enough to look back. December seems to be one of the most packed months of the year for ministry leaders, and the temptation, with all the New Year’s resolutions, eating plans, and workout reminders, is to repeat the same steps in our spiritual lives and leadership.
We open planners, cast vision, set goals, and ask what this year will require of us. That instinct isn’t wrong. But if we rush to function without first attending to formation, we often repeat patterns instead of discerning fruit, or worse, we plan an entire year without guidance and dependence on the God we serve. We plan from urgency rather than wisdom. We lead from momentum rather than spiritual and measured maturity.
Scripture reminds us that Jesus first called the disciples to be with Him before sending them out (Mark 3:14). Formation always comes before function, and who we are becoming matters more in leadership than what we are accomplishing. Before asking what God is calling us to do this year, it’s worth considering who He has been shaping us to be. So instead of rushing into a fresh start, I invite you to take a sacred pause—a moment to honestly reflect on the past year with courage and trust.
Take your time with the questions below. Maybe you grab your journal and work through the following questions and prompts, or you open up a brand new document on your computer and thoughtfully consider each line and response. These questions are not meant to discourage you or serve as an assessment. They are designed to reveal what God has already been shaping beneath the surface of your leadership this past year.
Reflect on the past year and ask yourself:
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- What is the most important thing I learned about God this past year from His Word? What changed how I see Him and myself, given who He is?
- Where did I try to take control on my own? Not just where things went wrong, but where anxiety, pressure, or fear quietly replaced trust.
- Where did I find it hardest to trust God in both my ministry and personal life? What situations showed what I truly believed about God’s goodness, timing, or faithfulness?
- Where did I need to acknowledge my weaknesses and my need for growth? When were my limits tested emotionally, spiritually, or relationally, and how did I respond?
- How did I confront discomfort or change? Did I avoid it, numb it, spiritualize it, or let it do its refining work in me?
Now shift your gaze.
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- Where did I see God grow me the most? Not where life got easier, but where you can see evidence of deeper trust, humility, or dependence.
- Where did I decide to be obedient even when it was difficult? Which ones demanded perseverance? Which ones called for surrender?
- What immeasurable things can I now reflect on? Growth that can’t be measured by a spreadsheet: greater discernment, softer reactions, deeper compassion, increased courage, quieter confidence.
Finally, write down two specific moments or circumstances where you saw God move in a way only He could. Moments where outcomes weren’t driven by effort or strategy, but by God’s clear and gracious intervention. These are not trivial details; they are testimonies of faithfulness. Now, say a prayer of Thanksgiving for the opportunity to join God in His mission, to minister to those in your care, and most importantly, to be a daughter of a loving God.
When we take time to reflect honestly, we start the year differently. Not driven by pressure to prove ourselves or fueled by fear of falling behind or needing to prove something, but rooted in what God has already been faithful to do.
As you move forward, I want to leave you with three practical steps for your new year, not as goals to conquer, but as postures to practice. You won’t see these tangibly on a church calendar or written down in a meeting, but they will shape your days and moments in subtle ways.
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- Resist the urge to rush. The deeper things in life never come quickly or easily. Slow down, reflect, ponder, and trust that depth will produce fruit in due time.
- Choose faithfulness over control. There will always be variables you cannot manage. Let that reality draw you into deeper dependence this year rather than a tighter grip.
- Lead from truth, rest in grace. Name your limits honestly and trust that God’s grace meets you there. Ministry is formed over a lifetime, not finished in a season.
January does not require reinvention. It invites reflection, and when offered to God, reflection becomes formation. Quiet, unseen, and often slow, is where God does His most lasting work in us today, tomorrow, and in the year to come.
Posted on January 9, 2026
Jacki C. King is a respected and beloved Bible teacher, author, and dedicated ministry leader. Her passion involves guiding women toward a deep love for Jesus and His Word, encouraging them to embrace their mission in their homes, workplaces, and communities. She is the author of “The Calling of Eve: How Women of the Bible Inspire the Women of the Church” (Tyndale 2022). A proud native Texan, Jacki serves alongside her husband Josh, who serves as Lead Pastor of their local church, and their three boys. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Ministry to Women from Criswell College, and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Connect with Jacki on Twitter and Instagram at @JackiCKing
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