2026 is almost here. Can you believe it? As a new year approaches, our minds often cast forward to imagine how this year could be better than the one before. Some of us take this opportunity to make a fresh start and commit ourselves to improving our lives in areas that have needed our attention. Making a resolution can be a helpful way to kick off the year with intentionality and focus.
If you are thinking of making a New Year’s Resolution for 2026, have you considered deepening your spiritual life? If that interests you, here are three simple options that could have a positive impact on your life and your relationship with God.
Praying Daily
What would your year look like if you committed to deepening your prayer life? The Anglican Church has a long and beautiful tradition of daily prayer called the Daily Office, which provides liturgies for both Morning and Evening Prayer to be prayed alone or with others.
An excellent resource to help you get started in praying daily is Pray Without Ceasing. Published by the Anglican Church of Canada in 2024, this version of the Daily Office is easy to follow, with heartfelt prayers that change to match each liturgical season. Hard copies are available for purchase at Gilmore Global, and for those who prefer to use a computer, tablet or phone, a PDF is available free online at anglican.ca/resources/pray-without-ceasing-morning-and-evening-prayer. To use Pray Without Ceasing, all one needs in addition to the prayer book is a Bible for the daily readings and the Lectionary that outlines the readings for each day. The Lectionary is also available for free online at lectionary.anglican.ca or as a hardcopy book called McCausland’s Order for Divine Service, also available at Gilmore Global.
Reading the Bible Daily
In my work as faith formation coordinator, I often hear from people who have a desire to become more familiar with the Bible. One of the ways to do this is to follow a daily Bible reading plan. BibleGateway has several free reading plans on its website at biblegateway.com/reading-plans. The plans vary in range and approach, from readings from the Old and New Testaments each day to reading through the Bible chronologically or from start to finish. You can read the Bible directly from their website in a number of different translations or simply use the plan to read from your own Bible. They even have a daily audio Bible for those who prefer to listen rather than read.
There are also several free apps that you can access on your tablet or phone that are also helpful for reading the Bible, such as YouVersion Holy Bible and Olive Tree Bible.
If you already have developed a habit of Bible reading, perhaps you want to dig a little deeper theologically. Theologians from the Anglican church have many wonderful and accessible books for deeper inquiry. Consider picking a book by Rowan Williams, Fleming Rutledge, Samuel Wells, N.T. Wright, or Sarah Coakley, among others.
Joining In with your Parish
One of the best ways to grow spiritually is by engaging with other Christians in community. Our clergy and parishes across the diocese love to offer opportunities for us to deepen our faith. Whatever your church has on offer for 2026, whether it is a Bible study, book study, or prayer group, consider joining in and making connections with others while you grow personally in your faith.
These are just a few suggestions for how to make a new start in growing in one’s faith. As you pray and consider what 2026 could be like for you, I pray that it will be a year filled with deeper joy, learning, love, and trust in the One who loves you.
Starting Fresh: Spiritual Resolutions for a Faith-Filled 2026
2026 is almost here. Can you believe it? As a new year approaches, our minds often cast forward to imagine how this year could be better than the one before. Some of us take this opportunity to make a fresh start and commit ourselves to improving our lives in areas that have needed our attention. Making a resolution can be a helpful way to kick off the year with intentionality and focus.
If you are thinking of making a New Year’s Resolution for 2026, have you considered deepening your spiritual life? If that interests you, here are three simple options that could have a positive impact on your life and your relationship with God.
Praying Daily
What would your year look like if you committed to deepening your prayer life? The Anglican Church has a long and beautiful tradition of daily prayer called the Daily Office, which provides liturgies for both Morning and Evening Prayer to be prayed alone or with others.
An excellent resource to help you get started in praying daily is Pray Without Ceasing. Published by the Anglican Church of Canada in 2024, this version of the Daily Office is easy to follow, with heartfelt prayers that change to match each liturgical season. Hard copies are available for purchase at Gilmore Global, and for those who prefer to use a computer, tablet or phone, a PDF is available free online at anglican.ca/resources/pray-without-ceasing-morning-and-evening-prayer. To use Pray Without Ceasing, all one needs in addition to the prayer book is a Bible for the daily readings and the Lectionary that outlines the readings for each day. The Lectionary is also available for free online at lectionary.anglican.ca or as a hardcopy book called McCausland’s Order for Divine Service, also available at Gilmore Global.
Reading the Bible Daily
In my work as faith formation coordinator, I often hear from people who have a desire to become more familiar with the Bible. One of the ways to do this is to follow a daily Bible reading plan. BibleGateway has several free reading plans on its website at biblegateway.com/reading-plans. The plans vary in range and approach, from readings from the Old and New Testaments each day to reading through the Bible chronologically or from start to finish. You can read the Bible directly from their website in a number of different translations or simply use the plan to read from your own Bible. They even have a daily audio Bible for those who prefer to listen rather than read.
There are also several free apps that you can access on your tablet or phone that are also helpful for reading the Bible, such as YouVersion Holy Bible and Olive Tree Bible.
If you already have developed a habit of Bible reading, perhaps you want to dig a little deeper theologically. Theologians from the Anglican church have many wonderful and accessible books for deeper inquiry. Consider picking a book by Rowan Williams, Fleming Rutledge, Samuel Wells, N.T. Wright, or Sarah Coakley, among others.
Joining In with your Parish
One of the best ways to grow spiritually is by engaging with other Christians in community. Our clergy and parishes across the diocese love to offer opportunities for us to deepen our faith. Whatever your church has on offer for 2026, whether it is a Bible study, book study, or prayer group, consider joining in and making connections with others while you grow personally in your faith.
These are just a few suggestions for how to make a new start in growing in one’s faith. As you pray and consider what 2026 could be like for you, I pray that it will be a year filled with deeper joy, learning, love, and trust in the One who loves you.
Keep on reading
The Holly Bears a Berry
It’s the Trying That Matters: A Life Lived in Love
Order of Niagara Honours Vital Lay Ministry
Rooted and Growing: Celebrating Four Years of the Niagara School for Missional Leadership
The Manger and the Rule: A Benedictine Lens on Christmas
Sharing the Spirit of the Season with Holiday Hope