Today we’re continuing our One Word 2026 series, and I’m offering you two more invitations to consider for the year ahead: grateful and peaceful. My heart for this series is simple—I want you to listen for what God might be forming in you as you look back on 2025 and step into 2026 with intention. Gratitude can feel “easy” in theory, but it actually takes attention and practice, because it’s so easy to drift into discontent without realizing it. And peace isn’t about having a quiet, trouble-free life—it’s the kind of inner calm Jesus gives that can hold steady even when your soul feels disturbed. We’ll look at Luke 17 (the one healed leper who comes back to give thanks) and Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel (how she leaves God’s presence with peace before her circumstances change), and I’ll invite you to imagine what might happen if you learned to give thanks in every circumstance—and to bring your turbulence to God so He can exchange it for His peace.

What I'll Share:

• A clear picture of gratitude as a posture and discipline—not just a personality trait or a fleeting feeling.

• A challenge to notice the “opposite spirit” of gratitude (discontent, dissatisfaction, thanklessness) and how easily we slip into it without attention.

• A practical invitation to give thanks in every circumstance, including the hard or unwanted parts of life, by asking God how He might be shaping you through them.

• A fresh understanding of gratitude as a catalyst for love, creating space in your heart for compassion and care for others.

• A biblical framework for peace as “freedom from disturbance”—not merely the absence of fear or trouble.

• A way to recognize agitation in your body and soul (tight jaw, tense shoulders, restless energy) and treat it as an invitation to bring your heart to God.

• Encouragement from Hannah’s story that peace can be real before answers arrive—because peace comes from God’s presence, not perfect outcomes.

• Two simple affirmations you can practice all year if either word becomes your focus for 2026.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• Philippians 1

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18

• Luke 17

• John 14:27

• 1 Samuel 1–2

Resources Mentioned

• Free One Word 2026 reflection guide: Nicoleunice.com/newyear/

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As we begin a brand-new year, I want to help you slow down and listen for God’s invitation in your life. In this episode, we kick off our One Word 2026 series — a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you’ve been and discern how God may be inviting you to grow in the year ahead.

I introduce the heart behind choosing a spiritual “one word,” not as a goal to achieve, but as a posture to receive. We explore two of the six words I’ll be offering this month — confidence and diligence — and look at how Scripture invites us to grow, not by relying on our own strength, but by trusting God’s faithfulness over time.

Through biblical stories, key verses, and honest reflection, this episode is about beginning the year grounded, hopeful, and open — confident in who God is, and willing to keep showing up faithfully, even when growth feels slow.

Main Takeaways:

Listeners will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of what “One Word 2026” is and how it can guide spiritual growth throughout the year

• Why spiritual confidence is rooted in Christ, not self-assurance or performance

• How insecurity can hold us back, and how God invites us into a settled, faithful confidence

• Why diligence matters in long seasons, especially when progress feels slow or unseen

• How perseverance fits into God’s formation process, not as striving, but as faithful presence

• Biblical examples of confidence and diligence through the lives of David and Nehemiah

• Simple affirmations that can shape daily prayer and intention throughout 2026

Bible Verses Referenced

• Philippians 1:3–11

• Philippians 1:6

• 2 Corinthians 3:4–5

• 1 Samuel 17

• 1 Samuel 17:37

• 1 Samuel 17:45

• Galatians 6:9

Resources Mentioned:

• One Word 2026 Reflection Guide
  NicoleUnice.com/newyear

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Hey friends — welcome to 2026! I’m so glad you’re here, and I’m really excited about what God has for us as we step into a brand-new year together. This month, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year.

In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.

Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.

What We Cover: 

1. Confidence is available to you — because God is the one doing the work

One of the biggest themes in Philippians 1 is this: God finishes what He starts. So you don’t have to rely on your own strength to grow this year — you can rely on His.

2. You don’t grow to earn God’s love — you grow because you already have it

This is so important: we’re saved by grace, and spiritual growth is our response to that grace. We’re not proving anything. We’re simply saying, “God, I want more of You.”

3. January can be a month of spiritual discernment, not pressure

I want you to feel free to take your time. The goal isn’t to pick a word immediately — it’s to listen and let God guide you.

4. One Word is a simple practice that helps you pay attention to God all year long

A “word for the year” isn’t magic, but it can be really powerful. It helps you notice what God is doing, focus your prayers, and stay spiritually anchored as life gets busy.

Resources Mentioned: Free One Word 2026 Companion Guide

If you want to walk through this with me in a more intentional way, I put together a free companion guide you can download here: https://nicoleunice.kit.com/newyear

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As we wrap up our year together, I want to invite you into this meaningful spiritual practice: looking back on 2025 through the lens of Psalm 107 to identify the “fingerprints of God’s faithfulness.”

In this episode, we'll walk through four redemptive storylines found in the Psalm—each representing a way God rescues, restores, and reorients His people. Whether you felt lost, trapped, wounded, self-destructive, or overwhelmed by storms, I encourage you to reflect on how God met you in weakness and brought deliverance. 

We'll close with encouragement for 2026, including the return of my “One Word” series and an upcoming study of Hebrews with a downloadable study guide.

What We Cover: 

1. God invites believers to tell their story

Psalm 107 opens with an invitation: “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” Reflect on how God has been present—even when it was hard to see.

2. Wisdom comes from reflecting on God's loving deeds

The final verse of Psalm 107 is a guiding practice: wise people heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

3. Psalm 107 gives four redemption storylines to help interpret your year

Psalm 107 offers us four major story arcs that may mirror parts of your 2025:

• From Longing to Belonging (lost → led home)
• From Broken to Free (bondage/shame → freedom)
• From Foolish to Healed (self-destruction → inner renovation)
• From Pride to Peace (storms and overwhelm → God stills the waves)

4. God often meets us when we are at the end of ourselves

Each storyline shares a common theme: people reach the end of their rope, cry out to God, and He responds with rescue. This directly connects us to Jesus’ teachings—less self-reliance opens space for more of God.

5. 2026 will include a “One Word” January + Hebrews Study (Feb–Easter)

I'll preview a return to my popular One Word series and share more about a full study of the Book of Hebrews, with a study guide starting in February.

Want More?

You can still listen to past episodes and download the Daniel Study Guide at https://nicoleunice.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this final Advent music episode, Nicole Unice explores the beloved hymn “O Come, All You Faithful” as a powerful invitation—not just to celebrate Christmas, but to respond to it. Rather than merely observing the season, listeners are invited to come, behold, adore, and worship Christ as the center of the Christmas story. Drawing from Scripture across the Old and New Testaments, Nicole unpacks how this hymn calls us into joyful worship, faithful perseverance, and intentional participation in the life of Christ. This episode closes the Christmas hymns series with a reminder that true joy is found not in tradition alone, but in worshiping Jesus as Lord.

Key Takeaways / Learning Points

• Joy is a posture of worship, not just a feeling

• Jesus is not just part of the Christmas story—He is the center of it

• Worship is the natural response to beholding Christ

• Faithfulness means continuing to receive God’s love, even in imperfection

• Christmas invites us to actively respond, not passively observe

• When we adore Christ, our hearts find true rest and alignment

Bible Verses Referenced

Psalm 100:1–2 – Worship the Lord with joy
https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/100-1.html

Micah 5:2 – The prophecy of Bethlehem
https://www.biblestudytools.com/micah/5-2.html

Matthew 2 – The Magi worship Jesus
https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/2.html

Luke 2:8–20 – Angels announce Christ’s birth
https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/2-8.html

John 1:1–14 – The Word became flesh
https://www.biblestudytools.com/john/1-14.html

Colossians 1:15–17 – Christ supreme over creation
https://www.biblestudytools.com/colossians/1-15.html

Revelation 5:12 – Worthy is the Lamb
https://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/5-12.html

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy
  https://nicoleunice.com/christmas

• Hymn: “O Come, All You Faithful”

• Author Quote: C.S. Lewis

  “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, but if true, of infinite importance.”

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Why does O Holy Night move us so deeply? In this Advent episode, Nicole Unice walks through the biblical and theological foundations of one of the most powerful Christmas hymns ever written. Originally penned as a poem and later set to music by a Jewish composer, O Holy Night captures the longing of a broken world and the radical hope of Christ’s arrival. Nicole traces the hymn’s themes—human helplessness, soul-deep worth, freedom for the captive, and the proper response of worship—back to Scripture, helping listeners slow down, reflect, and experience the Gospel anew during the Christmas season.

Listeners will:

• Discover why Christmas hymns carry such emotional and spiritual power

• Learn how O Holy Night reflects the entire Gospel story

• Understand why Jesus enters human weakness instead of waiting for human effort

• Explore the meaning of “the soul felt its worth” in light of Scripture

• See how freedom in Christ is both personal and social

• Be invited to reflect on how the incarnation changes the way we live today

Listener Reflection Questions

• Do I live like this is true—that my soul has worth?

• Do I live like this is true of others as well?

• What is one small step I could take this season to live as if this truth really matters?

Nicole also invites listeners to personally sit with and reflect on this phrase from O Holy Night:

“The soul felt its worth.” What would it look like to make this personal—“my soul felt its worth”?

📖 Bible Verse References (Linked)

All Scripture links point to BibleStudyTools.com:

• Matthew 2:1–2 — The star and the birth of Christ
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/2.html

• Romans 5:6 — Christ comes when we are helpless
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/romans/5-6.html

• 1 John 4:9 — God shows the worth of our souls
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-john/4-9.html

• Luke 4:18 — Freedom for captives
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/4-18.html

• Philippians 2:10–11 — Every knee will bow
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/philippians/2.html

• Genesis 1:27 — Created with dignity and worth
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/1-27.html

 

Next Steps:

• ⭐ Leave a five-star rating or review on your podcast platform

• 📩 Subscribe to How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unice

• 🎄 Download the free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy:
  👉 https://www.nicoleunice.com/christmas

• 📲 Share this episode with someone who loves Christmas music

• 🕯 Use this episode as a personal or family Advent reflection

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Jesus didn’t just come to teach us or inspire us; He came to reconcile us to God. In this Advent episode, Nicole explores Hark! The Herald Angels Sing—one of the most beloved Christmas hymns—and reveals how richly it is woven with Scripture. With more than 34 direct biblical references, Charles Wesley’s hymn is far more than a seasonal melody; it is a sweeping declaration of the Gospel. Nicole walks listeners through the incarnation, reconciliation, new birth, and the cosmic hope that Jesus brings. From Luke 2’s angelic announcement to Romans 5’s explanation of reconciliation, this episode unpacks why this hymn is actually a lyrical theology lesson celebrating Christ’s mission to redeem humanity.

Main Takeaways:

• Why this Christmas hymn is actually a full retelling of the Gospel message

• How Luke 2 connects to the angels’ proclamation of peace and joy

• What “God and sinners reconciled” truly means according to Romans 5

• The significance of Christ “laying His glory by” and becoming fully God and fully man

• Why being “born again” is the heart of the Christmas message

• How Jesus brings spiritual life that cannot die—even when our physical bodies do

📖 Bible Verses Mentioned (Linked to BibleStudyTools.com)

• Luke 2:8–14 — Angelic announcement of Christ’s birth
• Romans 5:1–11 — God and sinners reconciled
• Isaiah 7:14 — Prophecy of the virgin birth
• Isaiah 9:6 — Christ as Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
• John 1:1–14 — The Word becomes flesh
• Philippians 2:5–11 — Christ “lays His glory by”
• Malachi 4:2 — “Sun of Righteousness” with healing in His wings
• John 11:25–26 — “Whoever believes in me will never die”
• John 3:1–8 — Born again
• Matthew 9:1–8 — Jesus heals the paralytic (spiritual healing first)

Want More?

• Subscribe to How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unice
• Leave a rating or review to help other listeners discover the podcast
• Download Nicole’s free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy:
  https://www.nicoleunice.com/christmas
• Join Nicole’s newsletter for Bible resources and updates
• Share this episode with a friend who loves Christmas music

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this special bonus episode of How to Study the Bible, author and podcaster Carol McLeod joins Nicole to talk about falling in love with Scripture, walking with the Holy Spirit, and staying faithful in every season. From early-morning verse memory at her kitchen table, to decades of quiet service before writing her twentieth book, Carol reminds us that small beginnings matter. “His presence is all the preparation you need.” She shares a striking insight from Mark 5/Luke 8—linking a 12-year illness and a 12-year-old girl—and offers a tender word for anyone hurting this Christmas: Jesus came to carry your griefs.

"Christmas is especially for you if you’re hurting; Jesus came to carry your griefs.”

What We Discuss:

Model > mandate: Carol fell in love with Scripture because her dad lived it and invited her into his early-morning Bible time with intentional verse memory.

Start small & be faithful: Ministry often begins with a handful of people—dorm devos, a living-room group—long before books and microphones.

His presence prepares us: You can plan, but ultimately “His presence is all the preparation you need” when you teach or serve.

A double 12: A fresh reading of Mark 5/Luke 8 (woman hemorrhaging 12 years; Jairus’ daughter aged 12) calls us to care for both women with wounds and the next generation of girls who need Jesus.

Christmas is for the brokenhearted: Christ came not only to bear our sins but also to carry our griefs—especially good news for a hard holiday season.

Bible Verse References (linked)

• Lamentations 3:22–23 — His mercies are new every morning.

• Mark 5:21–43 / Luke 8:40–56 — Jairus’ daughter & the woman with the issue of blood (“Talitha koum”).

• Isaiah 53:4 — He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.

Want More?

• Subscribe to How to Study the Bible and leave a rating/review to help others find the show.

• Connect with Carol: resources, books, and devotionals at CarolMcLeodMinistries.com.

• Discover Carol’s YouVersion plans: search “Carol McLeod” in the YouVersion Bible app.

• Holiday help: check out Carol’s Christmas devotional, Let There Be Joy.

• Check Out Carol's Podcast: The Significant Woman 
• Download Nicole’s free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy: nicoleunice.com/christmas

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“That deep ache you feel isn’t something to fix—it’s a holy longing for the Savior your soul was made to know.” In this special Advent series kickoff, Nicole Unice invites listeners to rediscover the heart of one of the most beloved Christmas hymns, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. With a blend of Scripture, history, and reflection, Nicole explores how this ancient song—written over 1,200 years ago—echoes the human ache for redemption and the promise of “God with us.” Learn how the minor-key melody captures our longing for restoration, how its lyrics draw from 29 different Bible passages, and how Emmanuel’s arrival transforms our grief into hope.

Main Takeaways / Learning Points

• Advent invites longing: The season begins with honest reflection on our need for a Savior before celebrating His arrival.

• Scripture weaves through song: The six verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel reference nearly 30 Bible passages, from Isaiah’s prophecies to the Gospels.

• Exile and redemption: Israel’s captivity mirrors humanity’s spiritual exile—and Emmanuel’s coming brings true homecoming.

• God with us today: Jesus’ name, Emmanuel, assures us that we are never alone. His presence transforms sorrow, fear, and uncertainty into peace and courage.

• Worship deepens memory: When we sing truth, it roots in our hearts—anchoring our minds to God’s promises long after the song ends.

Bible Verse References (linked)

• Isaiah 7:14 — “The virgin will conceive... and call him Emmanuel.”

• Isaiah 35:10 — “The ransomed of the Lord will return to Zion with singing.”

• Isaiah 9:2 — “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

• Luke 1:78–79 — “The dayspring from on high has visited us.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 — “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

• Galatians 4:4 — “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son.”

Calls to Action (CTAs)

• Download Nicole’s free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy: nicoleunice.com/christmas

• Subscribe to How to Study the Bible for more Advent reflections.

• Share this episode with friends or your small group to spark hope-filled conversation.

• Follow Nicole on YouTube for video versions and bonus reflections each week.

Relevant Links / Resources

• NicoleUnice.com/christmas — for a Free Family Liturgy

• LifeAudio.com — Explore other faith-based podcasts

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“Suffering never has the final word; resurrection does.” This week, Nicole wraps our study of Daniel by tracing the shift from history to “end of the age” prophecy (Daniel 11:36–12:13). We explore the final clash between human arrogance and divine authority, the promise of resurrection, and how followers of Jesus live as citizens of an unshakable Kingdom right now—resisting “mini-empires” of self through humility, faith, and love. Practical reflection questions help listeners translate apocalyptic hope into everyday faithfulness.

Main Takeaways

• History → Hope: Daniel 11:36 marks a move from historical prophecy to a future, ultimate confrontation—yet God remains sovereign.

• Resurrection is central: Daniel 12 promises awakening “to everlasting life,” anchoring Christian hope beyond present trials.

• Faithful now: Wisdom is measured in faithfulness and righteousness, not conquest; we resist empire by daily obedience, love, and trust in Christ.

• Hold mystery with humility: Scripture gives what we need to live faithfully today, even when some details remain unresolved.

Bible Verse References:

• Daniel 11:36 — The willful king and human arrogance.

• Daniel 12:1–4 — Deliverance, resurrection, and wisdom that “shines.”

• Daniel 12:3 — Those who lead many to righteousness shine forever.

• Philippians 2:15 — Shine like stars.

• Hebrews 12:28 — Receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

• Matthew 11:28–30 — Jesus’ easy yoke.

Next Steps:

• Subscribe and leave a review to help others find the show.

• Download the free Daniel Study Guide: nicoleunice.com/daniel

• Watch the bonus “Digging Deeper” on YouTube about living faithfully in the age of empire.

• Share this episode with your small group.

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