As I slowly settle into 2026, I find myself far less concerned with New Year’s resolutions and far more aware of legacy.
I’m not talking about a legacy that makes headlines, but the kind that lives quietly in the memories of those closest to me.
What will my sons say about the kind of man and father I was?
What will my wife remember about how I loved, listened, and showed up?
What will my sister—or the people who walked alongside me for seasons of life—say about what truly mattered to me?
And maybe the question that sits heaviest of all:
Will people say that my life reflected the faith and principles I claimed to live by?
I don’t have a big platform. I’m not a celebrity. I won’t make national headlines or start trending hashtags.
But I do have influence.
And so do you.
That’s why I’m calling 2026 the Year of Influence.
Influence Is Inevitable, But How We Use It Is Our Choice
Influence isn’t just for people with big audiences or power. It shows up in our dinner table conversations, in how we handle frustration, and in the way we treat the waiter, the coach, the neighbor, our coworkers, or our kids when we’re tired.
Influence is seen in what we focus on and what we choose to ignore.
The real question isn’t whether we have influence.
It’s how we’re choosing to leverage it.
Right now, we’re living in a moment where many would say our country feels more divided than ever. It’s easy to draw lines and put labels on others. Too often, influence is used for politics, personal gain, or control instead of helping our neighbors.
Even words like love, truth, and service have sometimes lost their real meaning.
And that grieves me.
As a Christian, I feel a deep and growing conviction entering this year:
To be more intentional about love.
To be more deliberate about service.
To live my faith in ways that clearly show Christ’s example.
Not loud.
Not performative.
Not self-serving.
But faithful.
Jesus didn’t ask us to win arguments or defend our own interests. He asked us to love our neighbors, serve those who are often forgotten, care for people in need, and show His character in a hurting world.
Honestly, I think that kind of influence is needed now more than ever.
Because when love is co-opted and used as a weapon…
When faith becomes a badge instead of a posture…
When service is conditional or transactional…
People stop recognizing Christ in us.
I want my sons to grow up knowing that faith isn’t something you talk about—it’s something you live. I want my wife to know she was loved sacrificially, patiently, and consistently.
I want the people who cross my path to encounter dignity, generosity, and hope—even in small, ordinary moments.
I want my influence to point away from me and toward something greater.
That doesn’t mean I have to be perfect. It just means I need to be intentional.
It looks like asking better questions.
Listening longer than is comfortable.
Serving when it costs something.
Choosing humility over being right.
Showing up when no one is watching.
A Personal Invitation for You
I’m convinced that if believers reclaimed influence the way Jesus modeled it—not as power, but as service—we would see transformation in our homes, neighborhoods, churches, and communities.
What would change if this year you asked:
- Who is already within my reach?
- Where has God already given me influence?
- How can I use what I have—not someday, but now—to serve others?
You don’t need a title.
You don’t need permission.
You don’t need a platform.
You just need willingness.
Embracing the Journey, One Step at a Time
For me, 2026 isn’t about grand resolutions. It’s about daily faithfulness. About choosing, again and again, to let my influence reflect the love of Christ in tangible ways.
This is the Year of Influence, not because influence is something new, but because it’s time for us to use it on purpose.
I hope you’ll join me—not by following my exact path, but by bravely stepping into your own.
The world doesn’t need more noise.
It needs recognizable love.
And that starts with how we choose to live today.
What I Hope My Influence Will Say to Others
