Most men enter the new year with big goals they set for themselves, but often fail to have the motivation, actionable steps, and accountability needed to accomplish them.
They go strong for a couple weeks, maybe a couple months, but sooner or later fall off and regress back to the grind of life until the next year.
We are so quick to buy a gym membership, start a new diet or budget plan, we are so quick to do so many things. But what really matters is taking time to sit down and ask God what He wants from us.
If all we do is set goals and attempt to accomplish them then we are bound to fail if it isn’t a part of God’s plan. Instead of going through all the pain of starting and failing and getting discouraged and burnout, what if we just asked God first and actually did what He wanted us to in the first place.
This way even if we do fail we at least know we did what God wanted and we can move on encouraged rather than broken down. Before you set goals, map out plans, jump into the hustle of the new year, ask God what He wants for you.
A man of God leads with purpose, not impulsivity.
Below are 7 questions every Christian man should ask God before the New Year begins — questions that recalibrate your identity, rearrange your priorities, and realign your heart with God’s calling.
These are questions to start you on your path to knowing what God wants from you this year.
Ask the questions and don’t be anxious for the answer, just be still, wait, meditate, focus on His presence, and allow Him to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.
1. “Lord, how have I done loving You this year?”
Matthew 22:37 (ESV)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
This question hits the real target: relationship.
Not rules. Not performance. Not checklist Christianity.
Ask God:
- Did I pursue You or just acknowledge You?
- Did I seek Your presence or settle for religion?
- Did I rely on You or mostly rely on myself?
2. “Lord, how have I done loving others?”
John 13:34–35 (ESV)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you… By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by knowledge — it’s measured by love.
This includes:
- your wife
- your kids
- your brothers in Christ
- your coworkers
- even the ones who irritated you this year
Ask Him:
- Did I serve people or avoid them?
- Did I forgive quickly or hold grudges?
- Did I build community or isolate myself?
God cares deeply about how you love the people He’s placed in your life.
3. “Lord, how can I love You better in 2026?”
James 4:8 (ESV)
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Ask God for clarity:
- What habits draw me closer to You?
- What spiritual practices should I strengthen?
- What distractions should I cut so I can hear You clearly?
This is where purpose starts: strengthening your love for God.
4. “Lord, how can I love others better in 2026?”
Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves… look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
A man of God doesn’t wait to be needed — he steps into leadership with humility and boldness.
5. “Lord, what areas have I not surrendered to You?”
Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
This is where transformation happens.
Some things you may be holding back include:
- a habit
- a secret struggle
- a fear
- a prideful attitude
- a comfort
- a relationship
- a pattern of thinking
Surrender is not weakness — it’s the purest act of strength.
Nothing changes in 2026 if you don’t put it in God’s hands.
Ask Him to reveal the places where your grip is tighter than your trust.
6. “Lord, how can I lead more like You?”
Mark 10:45 (ESV)
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus led with:
- Love
- Holy Spirit
- Compassion
- Truth
- Sacrifice
- Integrity
- Humility
- Conviction
Ask God:
- Where do I need to model Christlike leadership?
- How can I lead my home better?
- How can I lead at work with integrity?
- Where am I being passive instead of purposeful?
A man becomes a leader worth following when he follows Christ first.
7. “Lord, what is one thing You want me to focus on going into this new year?”
Psalm 25:4–5 (ESV)
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me…”
Just one.
Men get overwhelmed because we try to change everything at once.
But God often highlights one area that becomes a catalyst for all the others.
It might be:
- spiritual discipline
- healing
- marriage
- physical health
- community
- purpose
- purity
- character
- consistency
- generosity
Ask God to give you one focus — one assignment — one direction for 2026.
Clarity leads to confidence.
Confidence leads to consistency.
Consistency leads to transformation.
How to Use These 7 Questions
Here’s a simple method to put them into action:
1. Block out 20–30 minutes alone before the New Year.
Phone off. Music off. Just you and God.
2. Write each question at the top of a page in a journal.
3. Pray consciously and sit in silence.
Give God room to speak.
4. Write what you sense, feel, or hear.
Don’t filter. Don’t overthink. Let Holy Spirit Lead.
5. Choose one step of obedience for each answer.
6. Share one insight with a brother for accountability.
This is how a man stops drifting and starts leading.
Final Word: Don’t Drift Into 2026 — Walk In With Purpose
Most men step into a new year hoping that something shifts — that motivation suddenly appears, that discipline just “kicks in,” that life somehow gets easier.
But hope without direction always leads to drifting.
A man of God doesn’t drift. At least not for long before he realizes and gets back on track.
But rather he seeks. He listens. He aligns his life with the voice of the Father.
These 7 questions aren’t just a year-end exercise.
They’re a reset — a way to quiet the noise, confront the truth, and let God set the course instead of your emotions, your habits, or the pressure around you.
Because when a man truly follows God, he doesn’t wander into the year…
he walks in with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
So before you chase goals, change routines, or try to force a “new you,” start by meeting with the One who already knows exactly who He’s shaping you to become.
Start your year with clarity.
Start it with intention.
Start it with God — and watch how everything else aligns.
And don’t ever forget that all this is to glorify God. To change and transform and become more like Jesus. To gain more muscles, more friends, more discipline, none of it matters if it comes from a place other than knowing Him more and making Him more known.
So step into the new year with this perspective, to know Him and manifest Him in the earth.
Ready to Step Into 2026 With Purpose?
If you’re tired of starting strong and fading out…
If you’re done drifting and want real guidance, structure, and accountability…
If you want to build habits that honor God, strengthen your body, and steady your mind…
I’m here to walk with you.
As an ACE-certified health coach, I help men build sustainable, faith-aligned habits in nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and daily routines—so you can live with consistency instead of frustration.
No hype.
No quick fixes.
Just clear steps, real accountability, and a Christ-centered approach to your health and habits.
If you’re ready to lead your life instead of reacting to it,
ready to build the discipline you’ve been praying for,
and ready to enter the new year with intention instead of impulse—
👉 Schedule a free discovery call today
Let’s build your next season with purpose, clarity, and the habits that support the man God is calling you to be.
You don’t have to do this alone.
References
Bible Gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/
