What Nudge is God Putting in Your Life This Year?

This blog is based on a sermon by Pastor Teresa Howell-Smith on January 4, 2026

Just last week, a group of monks captured the nation’s attention as they walked through Georgia. On day 66 of their walk of peace, they had already amassed over 600,000 followers on social media. People from all walks of life were captivated by their simple clothing and their rhythmic pace. Alongside the group was their loyal dog Aloka, so famous now that even he has a following on social media.

Why did we stop to watch this walk?

Because in a world seemingly moving at the speed of light, their way of life causes us to pause. They’re crossing state lines on foot, traveling towards Washington D.C. while blending prayer with activism. When I look at these monks, I see the Magi.

Like the monks, the Magi were outsiders and dreamers who put their lives in motion because they saw something worth following.

Every New Year, we spend the first few days recalculating. We look at our bank accounts, our health, and our schedules, and we try to set a new course.

In our everyday lives, we often use a GPS. We hear that digital voice coming through the speakers, telling us to turn right here or make a u-turn there. And sometimes, when we’re not paying attention and we miss an exit, the GPS lets us know that it is recalculating the route.

We often use a GPS because we’re heading somewhere we’ve never been before. The Magi found themselves in that exact position. The Magi weren’t the kings on that Christmas card that you sent out to family over the holidays – they were learned scientists and astronomers. They saw a new light – a new star that acted like a giant shining arrow in the sky. And they didn’t just watch it, they followed it into the unknown.

We often think that to find God, we have to be religious from birth. But the Magi weren’t church people – they were scientists and dreamers. God reached them through their day jobs. If the magi showed up in our world in 2026, who would they be?

Maybe they would be the techies or the creators. Maybe they’d be the engineers who look at the complexity of AI. Perhaps they are the spiritual seekers that in this digital age just want to seek something real and tangible. They would be exhausted by the personalities on social media and instead search for a light that doesn’t flicker. They are the outsiders. They are the people from across the aisle or from cultures we don’t understand, reminding us that God’s light isn’t a private club – it's a global invitation.

The everyday truth is that God is a master communicator. If you are a mechanic, God speaks to you through the harmony of the engine. If you are a parent, God speaks to you through the selfless love of your child. God is using the stars of your 2026 to nudge you towards something new.

The magi took a detour to see King Herod. He was a self-centered ruler who saw the new king Jesus as a threat to his power. We all have little Herods in our lives inside of us – it's that part of us that wants to be the boss of our own world. In 2026, the little Herod inside of us is fueled by the next upgrade – the newest iPhone or the better car. But these are the streetlights in a fog that don’t lead anywhere.

The magi brought with them gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They put skin in the game. The modern “gold” is influence – using your status to demand fairness for others. The modern “frankincense” is attention – giving God your focus in a year filled with constant notifications. The modern “myrrh” is vulnerability – It's bringing your mental health struggles and heartbreaks to God rather than a post on social media.

As Mindy Misener writes in her article “Reflecting the Light:”

"The story of the Magi is also a story of reflection. We can’t see the marvelous star they pursued, but we know it was there because we have the story of how a handful of astrologers put themselves in the path of its light. We know the star was there, I mean, because their courage and their curiosity intercepted that light and sent its brilliance bounding down the corridors of our history.

Christians have a habit of admonishing each other to be the light. But maybe that’s not the most helpful way to frame our work of faith. Maybe we ask too much of ourselves—and too little of God—if we expect to produce light. We are not here, after all, to burn, which by definition leads to burnout. We are here so that our lives—our words and deeds and hopes and pleas—evince a light that is utter, infinite, glorious beyond all saying, and yet somehow, also, already right here.”

In 2026, I want you to look up towards that light. What nudge is God putting in your life this year? What do you need to leave behind? Step out. Don’t walk alone. Find your group. Find your star and put yourself on the path of light.

And finally the GPS is recalculating. Let's follow the light.

Hallelujah and amen.