The Winter ’26 Witness magazine has dropped!
A few weeks ago, I started leaving my house a half hour earlier than usual. Not because I was eager to get to work, but because I needed a quiet place to meet with the Lord. Most mornings I park beside a country store, Bible open, coffee cooling, beginning my day with Scripture and prayer.
It still feels a little strange to admit how hard it is for me to do this at home. I’m distracted by footsteps in the hallway, unfolded laundry, dirty dishes, stacks of things waiting to be put away and a cat who insists on sitting on whatever book I’m trying to read. When I’m at home, my mind goes straight to home. But in my car, it’s just me and my Bible and no option to do anything else.
It’s humbling to realize that I must leave my house to fulfill my most basic calling as a follower of Christ, but the truth is that my mind rarely quiets on its own. Constant emails, notifications, conversations, tasks and responsibilities have a way of fraying our focus until everything feels fuzzy.
What about you? As a new year begins, what is cluttering your mind and crowding your attention?
If you’re not sure, the two features in this issue should help. Use them to step back and consider what might be getting in the way of your walk with Christ. Each will remind you of biblical priorities and the kingdom rhythm to which you are called.
Don’t miss “From our Archives,” where we are honored to reprint “Priceless Treasure” by the late missionary Connie Jones, who fell asleep in the Lord this past October. Connie reminds us that some of life’s richest treasures appear in the simplest moments.
As 2026 gets under way, my prayer is that these pages will quiet your heart long enough for you to make whatever changes are necessary to start again with Christ and keep him first.
