Think about a wheel for a moment.
No matter how strong the rim is or how expensive the tyre looks, if the center is damaged or misplaced, the wheel cannot move smoothly. Everything may look fine on the outside, but there’ll be instability at the center which will eventually affect the whole journey.

In the same way, life only works rightly when God is truly at the center. Not on the side. Not consulted only in emergencies. Not remembered when plans fail. God must be intentionally positioned at the core, at the very center of our daily lives. And this is why this has been our devotional focus this week, because as we prepare to step into 2026, it is even more important. Now is a perfect time to reflect on where God stands in your life.

Without a doubt, plans are already being made and goals are being set. We have delved and learnt deeply about this in the course of the week. But all these boil down to one focus: that God must be at the very center of all your plans and goals and, ultimately, He must be at the center of your entire life.

In Acts 17:28, scripture says
New King James Version
28 For in Him we live and move and have our being.

This means that God is the source, sustainer, and very essence of our existence. And this remains true in the coming year. Nothing about our lives is independent of Him. God is not meant to be a side influence or an occasional reference point.
He is meant to be the center, the source from which everything else flows and placing God at the center of your life as we approach 2026 is simply aligning your life with the truth that already exists: everything that concerns our life begins, continues, and finds meaning in Him.

However, God does not stay at the center of our lives by accident. He remains there by deliberate choices, by daily actions that keep our hearts and lives aligned with Him.

So how do we intentionally keep God at the center of our lives, especially as we prepare for and enter into 2026?

1. Pray continually
1 Thessalonians 5:17
New King James Version
17 Pray without ceasing.

Prayer should not be an occasional activity; it must become a lifestyle. To pray continually means to maintain an ongoing awareness of God throughout your day, speaking to Him, listening to Him, and involving Him in every detail of your life. When you constantly stay in prayer and communication with God, He naturally stays at the center of your decisions and responses.

2. Meditate on scripture
Joshua 1:8
New King James Version
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Meditation goes beyond reading. It is taking God’s Word into your thoughts until it shapes how you see life. When Scripture fills your mind, it begins to influence your actions, priorities, and values, keeping God central in your daily living.

2 Timothy 2:15
New King James Version
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The word of God is designed not merely for reading, but for understanding. When we study the Word to grow in knowledge, we become more conscious of what God expects from us as His children, how to act, how to think, and how to live our lives in a way that honors Him.

Through careful study of the word, the truths of Scripture shape our hearts and minds, helping us recognize distractions, sinful patterns, and worldly influences that pull us away from God. It equips us with wisdom, discernment, and clarity for daily decisions, reminding us to live intentionally and purposefully.
So, we need to fill our hearts and minds daily with the word.

3. Retreat like Jesus did
Luke 5:16
New King James Version
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Even Jesus intentionally withdrew from distractions to spend time with God. Withdrawal is not isolation; it is realignment and it is necessary.
You need to have times of personal retreat. Times where it’s just you and God. Intentionally create times where you can declutter and focus all your attention on God without any noise or distraction. Creating quiet moments with God helps you reset your focus and recenters your heart on Him.

So, set times of retreat even from now. Pick and set weeks or weekends on your calendar in the new year when you would go to a separate place and pray for hours unending. This is necessary for your 2026.

4. Make evangelism a lifestyle – Make God Known
Mark 16:15
New King James Version
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

God gave us the mandate to go into the world and preach the gospel to EVERY creature. Evangelism keeps God at the center of our lives because it reminds us of His purpose and calls us to live intentionally for Him. Sharing the Good News isn’t just about telling others about God, it’s also about keeping our hearts aligned with God’s mission. When we intentionally evangelize to the world, we are constantly reminded of God’s role in our lives, the blessings we’ve received, and the responsibility we have as His children to point others toward Him.
This shapes our priorities and actions because to guide others faithfully and share His word, we must remain grounded in Scripture, prayer, and in our relationship with God.

5. Seek First the Kingdom Daily
Matthew 6:33
New King James Version
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Seeking God first means prioritizing Him above every other pursuit. God and His will must be the greatest desire of your heart every single day. No other pursuit must rank higher. When God comes first, everything else finds its rightful place.

God cannot be the center of your life if He is treated as an afterthought. He must be intentionally placed at the core of your routines, decisions, and desires.

Today, take a moment to examine your daily life. What needs to change so that God is no longer on the sidelines but firmly at the center as you prepare for 2026?
What needs to change for you to be at the center of the center of God’s will for your life in 2026?

Take out some time to deliberately think on this and make amends where needed.

Do not forget, it is in God we live and move and have our being. Deliberately and intentionally put God at the center of your life and watch everything else begin to align.

Prayer Point
Father, I choose to place You at the center of my life. Help me to order my routines, priorities, and desires around You. Teach me to seek You daily and to live in alignment with Your will. As I step into 2026, help me to keep You at the center in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen