Today we’re wrapping up our One Word 2026 series with the final two invitations: enthusiastic and trusting. I wanted this whole month to feel unhurried—like space to look back on 2025 with gratitude, and then ask God, “How do You want to grow me in 2026?” And here’s what I’ve realized: enthusiasm isn’t something we manufacture by willpower. Real, lasting enthusiasm comes from being filled with God—and I love that the word itself traces back to that idea. If you’ve felt tired, distracted, discouraged, or even a little apathetic, I’m inviting you to consider what it would look like to be ardently alive, fueled by the Spirit. Then we talk about trust—because so many of us are carrying unknowns, losses, or things we can’t control. Trust is choosing to rely on God’s character when the outcome isn’t clear. We’ll look at Zacchaeus (Luke 19), the centurion (Matthew 8), and we’ll end with a reminder that God’s holiness means He is truly worthy of our trust.

What We Cover:

• Discover what “enthusiastic” originally meant—not just high energy, but being “in God” and Spirit-filled.

• Identify the real enemy of enthusiasm: indifference and apathy that grows when we’re overwhelmed and disconnected from God’s strength.

• Learn how spiritual enthusiasm shows up in real life through Zacchaeus: curiosity, bold response, generosity, and immediate heart-change in Jesus’ presence.

• Understand trust as steady reliance on God’s character, not on what you can control, predict, or prove.

• Be invited to name your modern “chariots and horses”—the things you’re tempted to rely on for security (money, approval, control, success, relationships, etc.).

• See what extraordinary faith looks like in the centurion: trusting Jesus’ authority without needing visible proof.

• Walk away with two simple affirmations to practice daily if either word becomes your focus for 2026.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• Romans 12:11

• Luke 19

• Psalm 20:7

• Matthew 8:5–13

Resources Mentioned:

• Free One Word 2026 companion/reflection guide: Nicoleunice.com/newyear

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Today we’re continuing our One Word 2026 series, and I’m offering you two more invitations to consider for the year ahead: grateful and peaceful. My heart for this series is simple—I want you to listen for what God might be forming in you as you look back on 2025 and step into 2026 with intention. Gratitude can feel “easy” in theory, but it actually takes attention and practice, because it’s so easy to drift into discontent without realizing it. And peace isn’t about having a quiet, trouble-free life—it’s the kind of inner calm Jesus gives that can hold steady even when your soul feels disturbed. We’ll look at Luke 17 (the one healed leper who comes back to give thanks) and Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel (how she leaves God’s presence with peace before her circumstances change), and I’ll invite you to imagine what might happen if you learned to give thanks in every circumstance—and to bring your turbulence to God so He can exchange it for His peace.

What I'll Share:

• A clear picture of gratitude as a posture and discipline—not just a personality trait or a fleeting feeling.

• A challenge to notice the “opposite spirit” of gratitude (discontent, dissatisfaction, thanklessness) and how easily we slip into it without attention.

• A practical invitation to give thanks in every circumstance, including the hard or unwanted parts of life, by asking God how He might be shaping you through them.

• A fresh understanding of gratitude as a catalyst for love, creating space in your heart for compassion and care for others.

• A biblical framework for peace as “freedom from disturbance”—not merely the absence of fear or trouble.

• A way to recognize agitation in your body and soul (tight jaw, tense shoulders, restless energy) and treat it as an invitation to bring your heart to God.

• Encouragement from Hannah’s story that peace can be real before answers arrive—because peace comes from God’s presence, not perfect outcomes.

• Two simple affirmations you can practice all year if either word becomes your focus for 2026.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• Philippians 1

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18

• Luke 17

• John 14:27

• 1 Samuel 1–2

Resources Mentioned

• Free One Word 2026 reflection guide: Nicoleunice.com/newyear/

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As we begin a brand-new year, I want to help you slow down and listen for God’s invitation in your life. In this episode, we kick off our One Word 2026 series — a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you’ve been and discern how God may be inviting you to grow in the year ahead.

I introduce the heart behind choosing a spiritual “one word,” not as a goal to achieve, but as a posture to receive. We explore two of the six words I’ll be offering this month — confidence and diligence — and look at how Scripture invites us to grow, not by relying on our own strength, but by trusting God’s faithfulness over time.

Through biblical stories, key verses, and honest reflection, this episode is about beginning the year grounded, hopeful, and open — confident in who God is, and willing to keep showing up faithfully, even when growth feels slow.

Main Takeaways:

Listeners will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of what “One Word 2026” is and how it can guide spiritual growth throughout the year

• Why spiritual confidence is rooted in Christ, not self-assurance or performance

• How insecurity can hold us back, and how God invites us into a settled, faithful confidence

• Why diligence matters in long seasons, especially when progress feels slow or unseen

• How perseverance fits into God’s formation process, not as striving, but as faithful presence

• Biblical examples of confidence and diligence through the lives of David and Nehemiah

• Simple affirmations that can shape daily prayer and intention throughout 2026

Bible Verses Referenced

• Philippians 1:3–11

• Philippians 1:6

• 2 Corinthians 3:4–5

• 1 Samuel 17

• 1 Samuel 17:37

• 1 Samuel 17:45

• Galatians 6:9

Resources Mentioned:

• One Word 2026 Reflection Guide
  NicoleUnice.com/newyear

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.