DRAWING CLOSER: MY 2026 JOURNEY INTO BIBLICAL HISTORY

I don’t know exactly what 2026 will bring or what God has in store for me—but one thing I do know is this: I want to experience more of Christian history.

There was a season in my life when I fully immersed myself in Black history. I traveled to different sites across the U.S., toured museums, explored landmarks, and learned more about where I came from and the history of African Americans. It was rich. It was enlightening. And it shaped my perspective in a lasting way.

Now, I find myself wondering… why haven’t I done the same for my faith?

A Moment of Conviction

Lately, I’ve been asking myself hard questions:

Why is it so easy for me to make plans for other things—things that aren’t wrong, but also have nothing to do with God—while rarely making plans to dive deeper into His story?

If I can be intentional about planning vacations, events, and personal milestones, why am I not giving that same energy to my relationship with the Lord?

I think back to my PhD program—how dedicated I was. I hardly missed a class. Even when I got pregnant, I didn’t take a break. I asked for an independent study so I could finish on time. I was locked in. Focused. Determined.

So, why have I been so casual about my Father’s business—the very One who created me?

That question hit hard. And it reminded me just how necessary self-reflection is if you truly want to grow.

Dying to Self, Daily

The Bible tells us to “die to our flesh” daily and to take up our cross (Luke 9:23). I’m beginning to see why that’s so important.

Every day, our natural tendencies pull us toward things that may be fun, interesting, or easy—but not necessarily eternal. Dying to self means choosing what is edifying to the Lord over what simply satisfies the moment.

We spend so much time getting to know new people, joining book clubs, planning outings, and making memories. All good things. But do we carve out the same intentional time to know God? To deepen our understanding of His Word?

That’s the change I want to make in 2026.

My Plan for 2026: A Year of Biblical Encounters

This year (and beyond), I want to dedicate intentional time to traveling to Biblical sites, exhibits, and experiences that bring the Gospel to life for me.

I’ve realized I’m a hands-on learner. While I value reading and studying, something shifts when I experience history. It makes Scripture tangible. It transforms facts into lived understanding.

Alongside these experiences, I’ve committed to reading the Bible in a year—specifically using my chronological Bible. This format takes you through events in the order they happened rather than grouped by genre, which I believe will help me connect the dots and better understand the full story.

Some of the experiences I hope to explore include:

• The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

• The Ark Encounter in Kentucky

• Sight & Sound Theater for a live Biblical production

• And more, as God leads.

Documenting the Journey

I plan to document each trip, sharing what I saw, felt, and learned—so that others can join me in the experience. My hope is that it inspires you to examine your own walk with God and consider how you might be more intentional in your pursuit of Him.

This journey isn’t about checking a box. It’s about falling deeper in love with the One who gave everything for me.

An Invitation to You

I thank God for showing me that I’ve, at times, put Him on the back burner. Now, it’s my responsibility to realign my priorities.

So I leave you with the same question I’m asking myself:

Are you giving your walk with God your all?

If not, why?

And more importantly… how will you change that?

Here’s to a year of going deeper, seeking Him fully, and experiencing His story in a way that transforms ours.