Build With God: 3 Foundations for Sustainable Writing in 2026

Welcome to 2026: Building a Writing Life Rooted in Faith

My friend, welcome to 2026! I can’t wait to see how the Lord rolls out the fulfillment of His promises in your life this year.

As you know from our previous chat, I love spending the last part of December in deep prayer and rest with the Lord. A major takeaway from that time is the deep understanding that we’re moving forward in Christ and there is no turning back.

Don’t look back. The door to the last season has firmly shut, and we’re marching onward.

2026 is the year we dwell in the proverbial land that the Father has prepared for us.

In fact, John 4:34 feels like a banner over the year, where Jesus told His disciples,

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

And as writers—especially those newly building or seeking to gain traction in your business this year—we need foundations that can carry the weight of the calling God has placed on our creativity.

The Lord is sending forth His chosen, redeemed, and prepared vessels to do the greater-than-them works.

Hearts will be touched. Lives will be transformed. And it will all be to the glory of God our Father.

Those may sound like big claims, but we’re coming at this from a place of transformed faith.

We’ve been deepening our discussion on trusting in the Lord, and that trust will impact our faith.

We’re not small daughters in the King’s eyes. We’re warrior daughters ready to take on what God has prepared for us to walk out with Him.

And with that in mind, we’re going to need certain pieces of our foundations to click into place to ensure we keep our heads on straight and our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Because while we may plan out epic quarterly schedules, we also understand that life never plays fair and the enemy never follows the rules.

With our hope and trust firmly fixed in Christ, we can do what seems impossible to do. No longer are we relying on our own strengths or understandings. We rely upon Christ, and we’re not ashamed of our dependency upon Him.

Today, we’re diving into 3 foundation mindsets every writer needs to truly build sustainable rhythms for conquering projects in 2026.

Why Faith Comes Before Time Management for Christian Writers

My friend, I am so excited to sit with you today! This chat will go deep, so please don’t feel as if you need to absorb all the Holy Spirit downloads in a nanosecond. Go over this episode as many times as you need to, because I truly believe the Lord is going to minister to your heart and mind today.

Now, I need to share a quick caveat to our chat regarding quarterly planning.

Before we dig into scheduling or quarterly goals, we have to talk about the heart that’s holding the calendar. And you’ll see the why in just a few moments as we press into this.

Before You Plan the Year, Tend to the Heart Holding the Calendar

I don’t believe there’s a one-size-fits-all time management system. What works for me may not work for you, because I have spent years testing theories and tweaking systems to cater to how my brain functions best.

However, I have found amazing rhythms and mindsets to conquer projects that made 2025 my most productive year by far.

It was the first time I ended the year fulfilled rather than full of dread and self-loathing.

So, while this may not be a play-by-play on how to set up your days and weeks, I will share the tips that brought me to the place of divine breakthrough over my calendar.

Because you having the freedom to thrive in your creative business matters to me. You having the capacity to achieve all that God has asked of you is a desire of my heart.

What you have stirring in your spirit is for the good of the Kingdom and needs to be released. God’s voice through you is what will impact the lives of your readers.

So let’s roll up our sleeves; it’s time to wrestle through some mindsets that could be holding you back from your best year yet.

Now, if you didn’t get the chance to listen to the previous chat breaking down the Kingdom Impact Roadmap, then be sure to listen to that episode. In it, we discussed the power of Sabbath stillness as well as how to reflect with hope and honesty to dig deep and discern what God is asking you to build in this season.

We’re taking what we learned through that chat, what we heard from God’s heart, and applying His wisdom to put our faith into action.

Establishing healthy rhythms does not have to be hard or complicated.

But it does require consistency.

Faith in Action: Establishing Sustainable Writing Rhythms with God

My husband recently challenged our people to sit and meditate on Hebrews chapter 11 in preparation for what is to unfold in this new year.

And I’d love to share a quick nugget from one of my studies.

The ESV commentary on Hebrews 11 notes that:

“Faith moves people to take appropriate action in response to God’s word.”

Now, a quick reminder, our salvation is not gained by our works—salvation is a free gift given by Christ. However, our faith prompts us to be active in taking God’s word and moving forward with it.

So, as you walked through that 4-step Kingdom Impact Roadmap, as you sat in deep intimacy with the Father to hear His heart for you, specifically, then you gained a clear understanding of where God is leading you.

Yes, I’m going to insert a chuckle here. Because, depending on your personal journey and where God has you, that clear understanding could either look like God laying out a blueprint similar to when He gave the specific dimensions for Noah to build the ark. Or it could be like when God said to Abraham, “Go,” and I’ll tell you when you get there.

Despite the scenario, there is one constant that you can always count on, and that is God’s word.

Which brings us to the first foundation tip we want to grasp hold of, and that’s:

Foundation #1: Stay Focused on What God Said (Not What the World Demands)

When we step into new seasons, new territories, or new pathways, there are a few things that could take place.

A) The enemy counterattacks in subtle and skillful ways, causing us to question what we know to be true.

Or B) our self-doubt becomes louder than what we know to be true. When we compare launches, chase trends, or over-consume advice, we can end up questioning our capabilities, our worth, our purpose, God’s directions, all of it.

But now is the time to determine for yourself whose voice you will listen to—God’s, yours, or this world.

My friend, you prayed. You heard from God. Be confident in what you received from the Father and walk it out in faith. Sow into what He’s given you.

Don’t overthink it.

Don’t overcomplicate it.

Just be present with Him.

Even if you don’t see the full picture, be faithful to what you’ve been entrusted with.

There’s a reason Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

You, actively using the faith Christ has established within you, will move greater mountains than you could ever imagine.

This isn’t fluff. This is fact. I have witnessed miracles take place over the course of the last couple of years that prove God’s faithfulness beyond a shadow of doubt.

When you step out in faith to follow and complete God’s word, God will reap a mighty harvest through that obedience. Do not doubt His faithfulness. Instead, feed off of it.

Psalm 37:3-5 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

The term “trust in the Lord” is repeated throughout the Bible. We, as fallible humans, struggle with trust. Our flesh wants control. Our mind wants guarantees. But faith challenges each of those.

Trust prompts surrender, and surrender paves the way for faithfulness.

Go ahead and turn to Isaiah 45 as we prepare to dive into our second tip.

It is easy to see the assignments, tasks, or projects that the Lord is entrusting to us and think everything is on our shoulders to bear alone. But, my friend, when God entrusts something to you, it isn’t for you to walk out alone. Nor is it to be completed on your own. Everything God will give you will be done with Him. Meaning there are things that will be His responsibility, and there will be things that are your responsibility.

Foundation #2: Do Your Part and Trust God with the Results

I love Isaiah 45 for this example. We won’t go through the whole chapter, but I’d love to point out a few things. Starting with verses 1 through 3.

““Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut: ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.”

Verse one tells us the who and the why. Cyrus was anointed and appointed for the end goal of subduing nations, weakening the strength of kings, essentially gaining dominion over lands, peoples, and nations. And as God worked, Cyrus would see and know that God is real and He reigns over Israel.

Random side note: if you’re unfamiliar with who Cyrus is, take a peek at the books of Ezra, 2 Chronicles, and Daniel for more study. He was one of the Persian kings during the time of Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Through the course of time, Babylon was taken over by the Medes. Then the Medes were taken over by the Persians, and that’s where we see Cyrus come onto the scene.

But as we continue through this narrative in Isaiah 45, we recognize a lot of “I” statements. God declares He is the one who makes the crooked paths straight. He is the one breaking open what has been closed and giving access to the treasures and riches of the secret places.

Cyrus isn’t responsible for any of that. We don’t see anything specific to Cyrus until verse 13, which reads,

“I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways; he shall build My city and let My exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says the Lord of hosts.”

Cyrus’s tasks were to build God’s city and set the captives free. And guess what he did. Yep, he funded the rebuilding of Jerusalem and released Israel from bondage, sending them home.

My beautiful friend, we put too much pressure on ourselves, thinking it’s all up to us to do the impossible, improbable, and miraculous.

Bring it down to a place of simplicity. Build what God asks you to build so that the captives can be set free.

Girl, it really can be that simple.

When you partner with God in faith—showing up to write the book, serving your readers, or stewarding your audience—that faith prompts you to trust God to make the paths straight.

Trust that He will open the doors, bring the readers, and multiply the impact. He can do in a moment what mankind says will take years.

Your faith partnered with God will see the impossible made possible. Faith does that.

Trust that God will make a way. But when He does, be faithful to pursue the path He’s put before you.

And if you’re struggling to walk boldly or confidently, then I’d love to pose this next tip as more of a question.

Foundation #3: Trust That God Is With You in the Work

Just before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Joshua was commissioned by God to lead the nation in claiming their inheritance.

Many of us are familiar with Joshua 1:9, which reads, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The terms in the original Hebrew for be strong and of good courage are both imperatives, meaning God is giving a direct command to Joshua to be bold and not to be afraid. But God doesn’t tell Joshua that he will be alone as he does what many thought impossible.

Remember, the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Here Joshua has a chance to do what the generation before him couldn’t. Yet he had to choose for himself who he would trust and rely on.

God promised Joshua multiple times that He would be with him. It was up to Joshua to believe God at His word.

That same promise is also given to us. But will we believe that God really is with us? Leading, guiding, sheltering, and providing.

Fear Isn’t a Scheduling Problem—it’s a Trust Problem

So often, it’s not our schedules or systems that fail us—it’s the pressing in of fear and doubt that keeps us from showing up consistently.

Yet the more we put our confidence in God, the more bold we become, because we’ll finally believe that the miracles are not on our shoulders to perform.

We are vessels of God’s glory, for His glory, and it is His to pour out.

How These Faith Foundations Shape Your Writing Schedule and Goals

And you might be thinking, “Desiree, this all sounds great, but what does it have to do with time management and creating epic quarterly schedules?”

Let’s go ahead and connect these dots. So far today, we’ve discussed being fiercely focused on what God said and not what the world demands. We’re challenging ourselves to complete what’s ours while surrendering to God that which only He can do. Thirdly, we’re determining in our hearts that God really is with us. We do not build alone.

Having these foundations in place will ensure that you do more than just set ideal goals or well-intended strategies. You will, in fact, fuel your faith for the mission, and that faith will serve as a driving force for this whole year.

Build With God So Others Can Be Set Free

This is the year you build what God has assigned for you to build. Whether that’s new services. New books. New podcasts. New Substacks. New products.

Whatever the case may be, build with God so that the captives can be set free.

May your heart be moved for your readers, because they need what you have to bring to the table.

When it comes to daily and weekly schedules, here’s a reality no one likes hearing: there will always be a new idea, new system, or new strategy that promises to show you how to get more done in less time.

But those strategies are moot if you don’t have a secure foundation of trusting and believing that God is with you, for you, and is leading you.

It’s better to have a strong foundation with imperfect systems than it is to have a perfectly curated schedule with a weak heart that gets nothing done.

If you really want to conquer 2026, then I recommend tending to your foundations before the heat of the year sets in.

To borrow what God told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 12:5,

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?”

Our business foundation determines the sustainability and longevity of our writing. I encourage you to sit with the Father today and allow the Holy Spirit to highlight any area that may need to be tended to.

God is for you, and I’m cheering you on.

Want to continue the conversation?

Whew! Lots of deep things today as we kick off this amazing new year.

I pray you were blessed by this message. If you know of a fellow writer who’d be encouraged by this chat, feel free to send them a link to this post.

God is the center of everything we’re building here, and I’d love for this message to bless as many people as we can reach.

You, my friend, are a gem, and I treasure you more than you know. Feel free to sign up for the newsletter for biweekly encouragement for Christian writers

In the meantime, happy writing, and enjoy the journey.