Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

“Stretch yourselves to pray for others,” Proclaimed the preacher, but the Holy Spirit whispered something slightly different to me.

“Stretch yourself to serve.”

Serve is the word God has given me for 2026.

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:11 NIV)

In 2026, I will serve my ministry family by speaking in person and online. I will encourage you by writing uplifting and edifying words through books and Facebook posts. I will also serve you as I lift your name and need up to our Father in heaven.

Stretching myself to serve means I will go the distance. I will put more effort into my words and more time in to prayer.

Moving from my personal support to my ministry family, let’s examine the limitless gifts that God bestows on His people. What is your gift? Perhaps you also write and speak, but all God’s children can pray.

I have felt inadequate many times when I hear the beautiful prayers of saints. Practice makes perfect, so let’s practice praying. When we continue to pray aloud in public, we will feel more comfortable about our prayers. Public prayers are the evidence of a fervent, private prayer life.

We can serve people in various ways. Some people have gifts for cooking or crafting, while others send greeting cards to those who are sick. Others possess the ability to make people feel good even on a dreadful day with a smile or kind word.

Peter reminds us that the abilities we possess come from God, so we can share them with others. As we use these gifts to bless others we will become faithful stewards of God. A steward manages something that doesn’t belong to him or her. Like everything else, our money, homes, and families, all belong to God, and our gifts are no different.

In verse eleven, Peter says God gives us the strength to serve others, so we depend on God and not ourselves to serve.

Notice the reason we serve one another. It is worship. Serving brings praise to God. We usually think of worship as music and raising our hands, but praises will ascend to God because of our service to someone else.

Again, I will ask you, what is your gift? How will you serve others in 2026?

Heavenly Father, help me know how to serve with the gifts You have given me. Equip me with Your strength. Amen.