As we enter 2026, we are at a crossroads in our nation, world, the Church and personally. We are faced with ever-increasing challenges to our faith and beliefs as we are confronted by our newest idols—outer space, secret histories, spiritual races, hidden realities, extraterrestrial intelligences, transhumanism, AI and other technology being used against us as weapons and much more. The scientific mythologies are a call to the Church—to true believers to proclaim anew the truths with which God has entrusted to us; truths that find their source in the only authority sufficiently profound to deal with the moral challenges with which science itself and in government, education, medical, the economy and other areas that continue to confront us all. God is drawing us back to the biblical roots of our faith—to His sovereignty—and to examine the condition of our heart. We will look at the terms “rut,” “rot,” and “revival” as we explore the biblical message of transforming grace and our spiritual destiny. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the liberating gift from our preexistent, creating and redeeming God. Through divine revelation, we stand firm with the Word of God, trusting God with victory over the enemy. As we hear the voice of God speak and doors are revealed we have a choice to enter in. May that which is conceived in the heart, nurtured in the relationship with the Father and revealed in light of the Son begin to arise as the Spirit moves us to enter the path placed before us. May we go forth in a spirit of humility and dependence on God. The Hebrew year 5786 began at sunset on September 22, 2025 on the Gregorian calendar and reveals insights and pictures for this year according to the Hebrew numbers and letters: look, communion, connection with others, new covering, heaven to earth encounter with man, joining of heaven and earth occurs, new efforts of humankind to flourish with new partners, new communities, and old acquaintances are made, new governmental coverings will occur, and expansions of house will occur, a grace for extending prayer covering exists in this period. Truly we have seen many of these things begin to take place as we enter 2026 on the Gregorian calendar. God has the plan!
As we have established, the condition of the heart is what matters to God. Heart appears 860 times in the Old Testament. The law, prophets, and Psalms often speak of the “heart.” “Heart” is used first of man in Genesis 6:5; “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.” In I Samual 16:7 we read, “…man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” The heart is the seat of the soul—the mind, will and emotions. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” And in Deut. 6:5 we read, “And thy shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart…” The “heart” is the seat of conscience and moral character—how we respond to the revelation of God and of the world around us. God wants to control our heart as our only hope; “A new heart also will I give you,…and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezek. 36:26) So we as sinners pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Ps. 51:10); and “…unite my heart (give me an undivided heart) to fear thy name.” (Ps. 86:11) The “heart” stands for the inner being of man, the man himself and is the fountain of all he does. (Prov. 4:4) God desires His people to seek His approval:…try my reins and my heart.” (Ps. 26:2) All our thoughts, desires, words, and actions flow from deep within us. Jeremiah 17:9 reveals that a man cannot understand his “own” heart. As a man goes on in his own way, his “heart” becomes harder and harder. But God wants to cut away the uncleanness of the “heart” of His people, so that we will love and obey Him with our whole being. (Deut. 30:6)
Let’s examine our heart as we begin 2026. The word “rut” denotes a sunken track or groove. In other words, as it relates to us, it is an uninspired routine or pattern of behavior that we continue unthinkingly or because change is difficult. This is the dilemma of doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We must stop and ask ourselves, “Why do we do what we do?” Is it to please ourself, to impress others or to please God? In Zechariah 7:5 God questioned the actions of the people; “Is it actually for Me that you fasted?” Remember, God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. (1 Chron 28:9) When we are too busy—doing—concerned about many things—things that are temporary, we cannot be at home with God so that our hearts are changed making our hearts like His. Human beings are capable of amazing accomplishments. We can preach sermons, teach Sunday school, feed the poor, and minister to the hurting in our own strength. But that’s not what God wants. The work He has for us is supernatural—we need His empowerment to work through us. Without divine empowerment, we cannot be a godly parent or spouse, forgive someone who has hurt us deeply, endure suffering without bitterness, model Christlike character in the workplace or demonstrate patience and kindness to cantankerous people. The reason many Christians feel defeated is because they don’t understand what the Spirit has come to do in and through them. Instead of relying on Him they’re trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. However, self-reliance is a guarantee of a fruitless life. We will fail when we are always on our mind—but will find victory when God is always on our mind! We need God’s power to get out of our rut and align with His will and purpose.
Now, let us consider the word “rot” as it relates to the condition of our heart. “Rot” is to become damaged, weakened, or useless because of decay; to deteriorate through neglect or inactivity; languish or decline; to decay morally; become degenerate; pointless talk; nonsense. We must ask ourself the question: “Am I listening to the voice of God or Satan?” The devil cannot make us do anything. The Bible calls Satan a deceiver and the “father of lies”. (Jn. 8:44) Satan’s only power over us is through manipulation and deceit. When he dangles the right bait in front of us at the right time, our fleshly desires make it seem as though something is relentlessly drawing us toward sin; but this power does not control us. In each case we choose to disobey. As we think about the last time we felt tempted to sin, we need to ask ourself these questions: “Did you suddenly discover that you were sinning or had sinned? Were you in the process before you ever thought about it? Or did it begin with a thought; then a feeling; then maybe a little struggle; then the actual sin?” Just as no one held Eve and forced her to bite the fruit, no one holds us down and forces us to sin. Satan cannot make us do anything, but he will do all he can to deceive us into dishonoring God. God is seeking people who are pure in heart. (Mt. 5:8) Having a pure heart starts with paying attention to our thoughts because from our thoughts come our words, our emotions, our attitudes, and our motives. God has created us to be dependent upon Him, to bring Him our challenges and allow Him to help us with them. Only He knows what is in our hearts, and He is an expert at removing the worthless things from us while retaining the valuable. We do not have to be afraid to make the commitment to allow God to do a deep purifying work in us. We may not always feel comfortable about the truth He brings us, but if we do our part—facing it, accepting it, allowing it to change us, He will bless us. Out of love, God will use extraordinary means to break through our hardness of the heart so that we might realize our need and come to Him for life. It is a source of great comfort to us to realize how patiently God works with each of us to lead us out of our misunderstandings and shallowness to come to even deeper levels of faith, knowledge and union with Him. We don’t know that God is all we need until God is all we’ve got! We must let go and let God have His way in our life!
Here are some God words to me from 7-26-12 in overcoming “ruts” and “rot” in my life. 1. You can be a blessing everywhere you go because Jesus lives in you and His life overflows from within you. 2. Christ gives new life. (2 Co. 5: 17) As you learn God’s Word, He will use it to change you into His image. The new you inside will make its way to the outside where people can see it. 3. Stop letting people run your life and be led by the Holy Spirit. Stop trying to please people all the time and be a God-pleaser instead. 4. God says: “You’re accepted in Christ and what He says is more important than what anyone else says.” (Eph. 1:6) Let go of your past mistakes and embrace all the new things God has for you!
If we are to experience true revival in our nation, the Church, and families, it must begin with revival personally in our own hearts. In the Bible, revival refers to a spiritual reawakening or renewal, characterized by a deepened sense of God’s presence, repentance from sin, and a renewed commitment to holiness and righteousness. It is a sovereign work of God, initiated by the Holy Spirit, that brings transformation in individuals, churches, and entire communities and nations. The Hebrew word for revival is “chayah” which means “to live, to revive, to keep alive, to give life, to quicken, recover, restore to life, save, be whole.” Revival is conditional on two things according to 2 Chronicles 7: 14: A Divine move of God in response to His people calling upon His name in humility, prayer, seeking His face, and turning from wicked ways. The ultimate goal of revival is for God’s people to rejoice in Him and experience His presence anew. Revival invigorates and deepens a believer’s faith, opening our eyes to the truth in a new way. It marks a fresh start with a clean heart, marking a new beginning of a life lived in obedience to God. True revival breaks away from the rut of dry ritual and rote ceremony and creates a deep emotional need for a deeper relationship with God through Christ. As Christians we must respond from the heart, acknowledging our need and allowing the Holy Spirit to draw back the veil of rot the world has cast over the truth to see ourselves as we really are. Paul in Ephesians 4: 20-23 reminds us that we are to hold fast to the truth of Jesus—“with respect to your former lifestyle, you are to lay aside the old self corrupted by its deceitful desires, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
God is getting us ready for what He is about to do! It is time to step into the supernatural! We are a chosen generation—a royal priesthood, a holy nation who will release others out of the kingdom of darkness into God’s marvelous light. As we allow His Word to sustain us, we will be strengthened beyond our natural abilities. (Jn. 14: 12) We will no longer be limited in our ways of thinking, but we will understand the truth of God’s Word. God wants us to arise—to walk in His authority, power, and demonstrate His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. The Lord is raising up Believers and equipping us for the end-time global harvest that will complete His Church before the Rapture. We as Believers are called, chosen, appointed, and anointed as ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We are called to bring the supernatural intervention of God to all those around us. It is time to get rid of the ruts and rot in our life and live in revival every day! God is teaching us how to walk in the Spirit, resist temptation, recognize the tactics of the enemy and grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! (2 Pt. 3:18) Jesus is calling us to experience more of His power and presence in 2026!