Ambition With a Humble Heart

The start of a new year is always exciting to me. New goals, new ideas, and new memories to create. I had a lot of great experiences in 2025, and I’m thankful that it was a year full of goodness. As I reflect on the things I want to be continued and the things I want to enhance, I plan to keep Matthew 23:12 in close reach. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  It’s not just a verse to simply agree with, but a way of living that we are invited into.

We live in a noisy world. Open your favorite social media platform or news source, and this is what I mean. It’s easier than ever to compare your life to someone else’s, to find someone who seems like they’re further along than you are. Amidst a world that prizes self-promotion and personal accolade above all else, we’re called to be humbled and set our eyes on things above.

Jesus spoke these words of wisdom to His disciples while the religious leaders practiced the opposite. They defined greatness as honor, recognition, and status, whereas Jesus redefined it as service wrapped in humility.

I’m only slightly competitive. Don’t ask my family—they’ll exaggerate. I enjoy hard work and seeing the reward. In 2026, I don’t plan to slow down. This verse reminds me that ambition matters, but the posture of my heart matters more. There are two general ways to do everything in life: the world’s way and God’s way. I intend to focus on the latter; to listen more than speak and value others more than recognition, trusting in His promise.

January 2026