The first Sunday of 2026. Pastor Nana Boadum opens at the first question ever asked in Scripture — the serpent's "Did God really say?" — and shows how the enemy still uses it to make us doubt God's character at every new beginning. Against it stands one fact: all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ. The charge for the year: forget what is behind, focus on what is ahead, and fight daily for the promises.
The seven movements
- The first question attacks God's character. "Did God really say?" — the serpent's opening move in Eden is the enemy's opening move at every new year: if God were true to His word, why didn't last year change? But all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 1:20).
- Seasons are a gift. Ecclesiastes 3 — times and seasons let us reset: the painful thing is in my past, and I will not build my future on it. God's promises never concern your past; they concern a future and a hope (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Jeremiah 29:11).
- Promises are an invitation to partner. The promise of entering God's rest still stands, but it did them no good because it wasn't mixed with faith. God doesn't hand promises to spectators — He involves us in bringing them to pass (Hebrews 4:1-2).
- Expect resistance; trust anyway. Psalm 2 — nations rage against the Lord and His anointed, and the powers of darkness always oppose the promises of God over your life. The answer: blessed are all who put their trust in Him (Psalm 2:1-3, 12).
- Steward every moment. Don't wait for a mythical "right time" to be in God's will. When you have life and breath and honor God with today's decisions, you are living out His purpose — a beautiful life is built one stewarded moment at a time (Psalm 68:19).
- Forget, focus — and count the cost. Philippians 3:13 — forget what is behind (pain and mountaintops alike), reach forward to what is ahead. And know that choosing the future God has for you means losing some company, some habits, some comfort: when you say yes to something, you've said no to many things.
- Fight daily by the prophecies. 1 Timothy 1:18 — wage the good warfare according to the promises spoken over you. Pray the promises, not the problem; work out your salvation while God works in you; take responsibility instead of asking "am I my brother's keeper?" (1 Timothy 1:18; 6:12; Philippians 2:12-13).
Walk away with this
Make the new-year decisions the word demands — sleep, spending, company, content, tithing, time in the Word — write them down, and fight for the promises every day. What's behind is behind; your end is greater than your beginning.