At the start of 2026, I have been praying for people to receive a fresh anointing of strength and hope. Below are some thoughts to encourage you.

The shepherd boy David was anointed by the prophet in 1 Samuel 16. Then, in chapter 17, he defeated Goliath. Until that time, he had looked after only a few sheep; afterwards, he went on to shepherd an entire nation. As a farm boy, he played his harp and sang his songs to an audience of stars in the fields of Bethlehem. Later, he became the sweet psalmist of Israel, playing in the king’s court and writing many of the Psalms.

Being anointed gave David greater capacity and influence. It amplified his ministry.

In Psalm 92, David speaks of fresh oil and its benefits. We understand from this that there are seasons when the Lord pours out a new anointing upon us, enabling us to move into new levels of fruitfulness and serve in new ways.

“But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox;
I have been anointed with fresh oil.
My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies;
My ears hear my desire on the wicked
Who rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
(Psalm 92:10–15)

Seven Benefits of a Fresh Anointing

1. Victory Over Your Enemies

“My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies.”

Our adversaries are not human but spiritual (Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4). Everything that seeks to slow you down, cause doubt, or undermine your identity in Christ is demonic in nature. These forces attempt to intimidate, frustrate, and distract us, and we must learn to recognize their activity.

They can manifest through nightmares, sudden frustrations, misplaced items, negative thoughts, temptations, or mental oppression. However, the enemy has no legal right to operate in your life because Christ has redeemed you from the curse of the law (Galatians 5:13).

You can use the name of Jesus to pray and cast down these forms of resistance, whether in everyday challenges or attacks against your mind.

2. Flourishing Like the Palm Tree

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.”

The palm tree grows where other trees cannot. What seems impossible becomes possible. The wicked are described as grass that is cut down, but the righteous are compared to trees lifted upward in praise.

Your circumstances are not meant to define you. You can plant churches where others cannot, and prosper where others have failed. Christ is a living spring of water within you, enabling you to flourish anywhere.

Do not make decisions based on outward evidence, but on inner faith.

3. Strength Like the Cedar

“He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

Cedars represent resilience, endurance, and longevity. These trees can live over 1,000 years, are rot-resistant, weather-resistant, and repel insects.

God promises to renew our strength through the anointing, granting us long, healthy, Spirit-filled lives—so full of divine life that even demonic forces retreat.

4. Flourishing in God’s House

“Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

To have influence in the courts, we must first be planted in the house of the Lord. As the church goes, so goes the world. The anointing is given first to help us flourish within the church and from there to transform the world.

Some believers make the mistake of trying to change the world without first being rooted in God’s presence and His people. True influence flows from faithful planting.

5. Fruit in Old Age

“They shall still bear fruit in old age.”

Your best years are never behind you—they are always ahead of you. Do not assume that age means your season is over. While the world may sideline the elderly, God’s kingdom is built through wisdom, anointing, and character.

The older you become, the more fruitful you should be.

Do not talk yourself into retirement from God’s calling. If Abraham and Sarah could bear a child in their nineties, you can remain productive. If Caleb could fight battles at an advanced age, you can continue preaching and serving for many years.

John Wesley wrote that he had fewer pains in his seventies than in his youth. He rode long distances to preach, sometimes traveling 80 miles in a single day and ministering in multiple cities.

Come on—don’t die in front of a television!

6. An Abundant Life

“They shall be fresh (fat) and flourishing.”

Fatness and flourishing speak of abundance and prosperity. The anointing causes you to prosper, granting wisdom, divine timing, favor, and opportunity.

There are two ways to prosper:

• By trusting in your own work, or
• By trusting in Christ’s finished work (2 Corinthians 8:9).

We do not rest on Sundays or give tithes because of legal obligation, but because it is an opportunity to declare that Christ is our source. This gives us access to His salary, not ours.

7. A Life That Points to Christ

“To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Ultimately, the fresh anointing exists to glorify Christ.

While unrighteousness may be found in us, there is none in Him. The law reveals the righteousness of man; the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. God is both just and the Justifier.

Every blessing comes through Christ alone. He is our Rock, our Salvation, and our Hope. We are blessed not because of our goodness, but because of His—not because of our works, but because of His finished work.

This is good news for the weak and the weary. All who are heavy-laden can find rest for their souls. Don’t try, but trust. Your success this year is based on His victory and His power. It is a victory conceded to us rather than conquered by us. Cast your cares upon Him who cares. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will establish your paths. By simply trusting in Him, all the blessings due to Him become yours. As He is, so are you in this world! Believe and declare that you are blessed and highly favored. Pray, and you shall have whatever you say!

By trusting fully in Him, the anointing and all its blessings flow freely.

Closing Blessing

May God bless you this year so that, more than ever, your life points people to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

John Wesley once said, “Without prayer, God cannot…”

This revelation has deeply motivated me over the years. Here are some reflections that I believe can strengthen your life:

I say it again: without prayer, God cannot…

Click the link below to read: 7 Things that Help Me Pray.

Make a decision and stick to it. When prayer becomes a routine, the mental battle is won more quickly. For example, I made a decision always to accept a glass of water if someone offers it. It is no longer a decision—it is settled. In the same way, choose your prayer times and keep them without questioning.

I will pray anywhere, but given the choice, I prefer being in nature. I enjoy space and the freedom to pray aloud without distraction. My wife, Silvie, prefers a quiet, enclosed place. Find the environment that helps you focus and meet with God.

If you do not feel like praying, tell God honestly. Confess your weakness, and He will strengthen you. Simply ask Him for help, and He will give it.

Read God’s Word until it becomes alive in your spirit—then pray it. We love Him because He first loved us; we speak to Him because He first spoke to us. If you feel you have nothing to say, return to His promises and let them guide your prayer.

Faith is contagious. Being around people who pray will strengthen your own prayer life. Even Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him in His hour of need. Do not isolate yourself—others can help fan the flame of prayer within you.

Pray in English when you know what to pray. Pray in tongues when you do not, or when you want to pray more deeply. It helps release your spirit and enables you to pour out your heart fully before the Lord.

We can pray silently at any time, but when possible, pray aloud. Speaking your prayers helps focus your mind and intensify your engagement with God. Silent thoughts can easily drift, but spoken prayer strengthens concentration and conviction.

When you pray, would you remember us in your prayers? Pray that God would give us much fruit in the MABA projects we are launching.

Thank you!

INFO: www.thegreatmission.org/maba2026