BREAK FREE FROM PATTERNS THAT DRAIN YOUR PEACE AND PRODUCTIVITY

Step Out, Step Forward, Keep Going

Let’s officially welcome you to 2026, our year of OPEN DOORS!

But before we get too far into the year, what are your plans for 2026? There is a popular saying that ‘doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results is synonymous with insanity,’ and according to Bishop Oyedepo, “What you don’t resist has the right to remain.” This is why this piece is coming to you now, to ensure you identify your pitfalls and do not repeat the same mistakes from 2025.

Sit tight; this may be a bumpy read.

It usually starts small. You say you’ll just scroll on your phone for “five minutes” before getting to work. Or you promise yourself that this year you’ll finally start waking up earlier to pray and do some productive things, but somehow, almost thirty days into the new year, you still find yourself waking up late. Maybe it’s even a cycle of negative thoughts, such as procrastination, comparison, or avoidance, that weighs you down and affects your peace.

These patterns are thoughts you repeatedly have about yourself, others, and the world. Some are habits you’ve carried for years, while others creep in during specific seasons. And the thing about them is that they don’t just waste your time; they keep you joyless and unproductive. They keep you busy but not productive, moving but not really making progress.

What’s Your Own Cycle?

The children of Israel knew what it meant to be stuck. After leaving Egypt, they spent forty years in the wilderness. God had already promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, but instead of entering in, they wandered in circles. At one point, God said to them in Deuteronomy 2:3, “You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.”

That verse perfectly describes what cycles do. They make you feel like you’re moving, but you’re only repeating the same scenery. For some, it’s procrastination; you circle the mountain of delay instead of stepping into progress. For others, it’s overthinking; you circle the mountain of doubt until fear paralyses you. For some, it’s a constant distraction; you start a lot but finish little.

Recognising the Negatives, Choosing the Positives

Negative patterns of the world, such as fear, worry, laziness, and comparison, can feel normal if you don’t recognise them or deal with them. But when God renews your mind, He reshapes the pattern. You begin to think differently, and when your thoughts change, your actions follow.

This renewal is not instant; it’s a process. Think of it like learning to drive on a new route after years of taking the same road to work. At first, your instincts keep pulling you toward the old familiar turn, even when you know it’s not the way you should go. But the more you take the new route, the easier and more natural it becomes until one day, you don’t even think about the old road anymore. The more you choose God’s truth, the stronger that new path becomes, until the old one begins to fade.

Trust the Process

People often think freedom from these patterns means instant perfection. But more often, God leads you through a journey, and on that journey, His grace is the safety net that keeps you moving forward. Paul described it best in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Look at Peter. His negative pattern was fear, so much so that he denied Jesus three times. By human standards, that should have disqualified him. But after the resurrection, Jesus didn’t reject him. Instead, He restored him. And the same Peter who once gave in to fear stood boldly at Pentecost and preached, leading thousands of people to Christ in a single day. That’s what grace does: it restores, empowers, and gives you a fresh start.

Don’t despise the process. Celebrate small victories. Thank God for the days you catch yourself quicker because that’s growth and transformation in motion.

And always remember that God delights in your progress, even more than you do. He’s not frowning at you because you’re not “there yet.” He’s smiling because every step away from the old pattern is a step closer to Him.

What are some cycles you are trusting God to break free from this year, and what steps are you taking toward that? Feel free to share with us in the comments.