What Do You Need to Fix in 2026?

 I believe the message and direction God desires for us in 2026 can be found in His correction and counsel to the church in Sardis, found in Revelation 3:1-3.

1 “...I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.  

2  Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.  

3  Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief."

How can a church have a reputation for being alive but God says they are dead?  

There is a clue in verse 4, "Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil".  The people had unknowingly allowed the secular evil culture and world they lived in to permeate every area of their lives.  They began to believe the hype and acceptance by the world around them, and then, rather than make a difference and be the light in a dark world, they were lulled to sleep by it.  

Their situation reminds me of the scene in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy sees the Emerald City in the distance, with only a beautiful poppy field between her and it.  What danger is in that?  She had braved the dark forest and flying monkeys; this is a piece of cake.  But little did she know that a magic sleeping spell was released as she walked through the flowers.  She let her guard down and was overpowered.  Without the help of her traveling companions, she would have fallen fast asleep forever.  

For the believer, there are many ideas, lifestyles and events in the world that look as inviting and safe as a flower field, but they are evil mine fields and traps set by the enemy for our destruction.  And if the devil can't destroy us, he does the next best thing: he lulls us to sleep by them.  There are many sleepwalking Christians who have a reputation for being alive, but are sleepwalking, spiritually dead, and don't know it.  

So Wake up! Strengthen what little remains." (Rev 3:2)  

My prayer for you is that in 2026 you hear the Spirit of God (3:1) shout, Wake up!  Strengthen (fix) what remains.  That's where the theme for 2026 comes from, "Time to Fix in 2026".  This is the year to remember, to "go back to what you heard and believed at first" (3:3).  

What have you heard and believed at first?  That is the basics, the fundamentals, of your faith and practice.   Go back and reflect on when you first came to know Christ.  

• What has changed since then?  
• What are you not doing now that you did all the time then?  
• What poppy fields are you sleeping in?  
• What are the traps of the enemy that are keeping you in bondage?  
• What evils and sins have become habits and lifestyles in your life?  
• How have you become just like the sinful world around you?  

Do you have a reputation of being alive but are dead?  2026 is the year to WAKE UP, strengthen what remains, go back to your beginning in Christ, hold firmly to it, and repent. (3:3). 

Sometimes, poppy fields are not blatant evil and disobedience, but areas of your walk in Christ that you have become lazy, inconsistent, or have neglected altogether. Habits you regularly practiced as a new believer that you have shelved, such as prayer, Bible study, sharing your faith, being actively involved in your church, being generous in your giving, and using your talents for the glory of God (some of you have buried them like the foolish servant in Matthew 18).  It's time to dig them back up!  

What are you going to fix in 2026?

I see 2026 as a year to be cautious of starting new things, but instead, rebuilding, strengthening, and fixing the areas of your life that the Holy Spirit shows you.  Some of those areas will not seem "spiritual", but they are.  For example, what needs fixed in your relationships (marriage, children, friendships, family, etc)?  What about your finances? Dreams and goals? Health? Occupation?  When was the last time you made a list and asked the Holy Spirit what areas you have fallen asleep in?  What areas have I been stuck in for who knows how long?  

Here is a practical example from my own life for this year.  Over the last few years, I have neglected the maintenance and upkeep of my home's exterior.  A few months ago, I had decided I wanted to build a new covered back porch.  And what has the Lord told me now?  Strengthen/fix what remains. In other words, don't go spending money to build something new when the house needs painting, the roof needs replacing, and the front yard needs landscaping.  Focus on what you have, what needs work, before starting something new.  So for me, 2026 is the time to fix my house, among other things.   

What are you putting off that needs strengthening?  Who is that important person in your life that you have allowed an offense to fester and now, if you're honest with yourself, you've given up on?  Wake up!  Now is the year to start that savings plan, get a tax professional to fix the last couple of years' tax returns, and set you up properly for this year.  Now is the year to stop avoiding the debt collectors and bravely make the first call.  Sometimes, the most spiritual thing a person can do is set their finances in order.  Do you give regularly to your church?  Are you actively serving?  What's your spiritual growth plan for prayer and Bible intake? How long have you planned to clean out that garage or closet?  What about your vehicle?  Is it due for a transmission service?  Needs new tires?  How long have you been going with that pesky service light?  When our life is full of chaos and loose ends, it affects every area of our life.  God is not just concerned about your spiritual life, but every area of your life.  When you begin to set things in order, it allows God to set you in order.  When we trust his guidance in "the little things", and nothing is little, it gives him permission to build our faith for greater things.  It's time to stop smelling the poppies and wake up!  It's time to fix in 2026.