A Note from Hixon Frank | January 2, 2026
Five Spiritual Commitments That Could Change Your 2026
Following a very disappointing 1959 football season for the Green Bay Packers, legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi walked into the first team meeting of 1960, held up a football, and made this simple declaration… “THIS” he said pointing to the ball, “is a football.” The room full of professional athletes shifted uneasily as his words hung in the air. He did not intend to insult or to shame the men for the poor performance of the previous year. He simply, and powerfully, wanted to reset their thinking. His message was clear: when teams struggle, it is rarely because they lack advanced knowledge or creative strategy; it is because they drift from the fundamentals. Lombardi believed excellence is built by returning again and again to the basics and executing them with discipline, precision, and consistency.
From that moment, Lombardi rebuilt the Packers from the ground up. He re-taught blocking, tackling, route-running, ball security, and disciplined execution—nothing flashy, nothing new, just a relentless commitment to doing simple things well. The results were extraordinary. Under Lombardi’s leadership, the Packers went on to win five NFL championships in seven years, including the first two Super Bowls. This story captures a universal truth: success is rarely complicated, but it is about faithfulness to the fundamentals.
What is true in football is true in our faith. Even among our most seasoned and faithful saints, drift can happen. Over time, we can neglect the basics instead of practicing them. A “reset” or “recalibration” is necessary. Scripture echoes this same principle. Proverbs 24:3–4 teaches that a house is built by wisdom and established by understanding. Revelation 2:4–5 warns against abandoning first love and calls God’s people to remember and return. Jesus Himself simplified everything when He said the greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37–39). Before we add complexity, or coast on what we used to do in the past, we must be sure we still know what the football is—and that we are faithfully doing the simple, foundational things well.
THIS IS A FOOTBALL
A new year carries with it a quiet invitation. Calendars turn, routines reset, and hope whispers that something new is possible. Yet Scripture reminds us that lasting change does not come from stronger resolve alone, but from deeper surrender. Transformation happens not by accident, but through intentional devotion to God over time. The Apostle Paul captured this forward-looking posture when he wrote, “Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14, CSB). As you step into 2026, consider anchoring your life around five simple, spiritual, and foundational commitments that, if practiced faithfully, can shape not only this year, but the trajectory of your soul.
The FIRST commitment is to seek God first each day. Jesus was unmistakably clear about priority when He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matthew 6:33). Seeking God first is not about religious performance; it is about orientation. It is about our posture toward a world that is set against the things of God. It means beginning each day acknowledging that God—not productivity, not success, not control—is the source of life and meaning. When Scripture and prayer shape the opening moments of the day, they quietly influence the decisions that follow. The psalmist expressed this longing with honesty and urgency: “God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you” (Psalm 63:1). Seeking God daily is the “ultimate reset” and reorders what we love, pursue, and value.
When we don’t intentionally seek God, we unintentionally drift from Him.
The SECOND commitment is to stay rooted in God’s Word. Everyone seems to have an opinion on this and that. Every news channel appears to be hell-bent on making sure we are angry, dependent, and scared regardless of “which side we are on.” But Scripture isn’t like that. It grounds believers in unchanging truth. Paul reminded Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word does more than inform; it exposes, challenges, and restores. When Scripture is neglected, other voices inevitably shape our thinking. But when Scripture is read prayerfully and consistently, it renews the mind and aligns the heart with God’s purposes. As Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Lamps are most helpful when consulted regularly, not occasionally. Get a Bible Reading plan and follow it. Like this one – The 2 Year Bible Reading Plan
“Just read it…and let it read you.”
The THIRD commitment is to practice ongoing prayer as a way of life. Not public prayer or even praying with your spouse. Though those things are important. Private prayer. Praying when no one is watching… no one knows you are even praying … and when the only audience is a Heavenly Father who cannot be fooled, sweet-talked, or cajoled. Private prayer lays bare motives, eventually allowing the one who is shaped by it to be completely transformed.
Prayer is often misunderstood as a last-ditch effort in moments of crisis, yet Scripture presents it as a continual posture of dependence. “Pray constantly,” Paul exhorts (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer keeps the believer tethered to God throughout the day—expressing gratitude, confessing sin, seeking wisdom, and releasing anxiety. Paul encourages believers, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Prayer does not eliminate hardship, but it reframes it through trust.
Over time, prayer reshapes the heart, softening pride and strengthening faith.
The FOURTH commitment is to walk faithfully with others in Christian community. We intentionally call our Sunday morning Bible Studies “Connect Groups” because one of the primary purposes of each group is to connect people with each other. Scripture consistently affirms that spiritual growth happens best in relationship. Faith was never intended to be practiced in isolation. The book of Hebrews exhorts believers to “consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together” (Hebrews 10:24–25). Community offers encouragement in weariness, correction when needed, and shared joy in obedience. Alongside community is the call to faithful obedience. Jesus said plainly, “If you love me, you will keep my commands”(John 14:15). Obedience is not legalism; it is love lived out. When faith is practiced in community, obedience becomes more visible, supported, and sustained.
Isolation weakens faith, and delayed obedience slowly hardens the heart.
The FIFTH commitment is to live with eternal purpose and hope. A Christ-centered life is shaped by the awareness that time is limited, and eternity is real. Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” (Psalm 90:12) When eternity informs daily decisions, priorities shift. Generosity replaces accumulation, compassion overcomes indifference, and faithfulness outweighs convenience. Paul reminded the church, “Be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) Eternal perspective gives meaning to unseen acts of obedience and perseverance through difficulty.
“When eternity fades from view, comfort replaces calling.”
Seeking God daily centers the heart. Immersing in Scripture renews the mind. Prayer sustains dependence. Community strengthens faith. Eternal perspective gives direction and hope. None of these commitments are flashy, but all are as foundational to our faith as blocking and tackling is to football. You cannot “win” without them.
The Proverbs offer this enduring promise: “Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)
As 2026 unfolds, challenges will arise and seasons will change. But a life anchored in these commitments will not drift aimlessly.
Happy New Year!
Hixon