Halfway Through the Year

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

July 3, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

Halfway Through the Year

Half the year is now history.

Let’s take a little inventory.

You probably made some resolutions at the beginning of the year—things you wanted to do and accomplish, things you had been neglecting that you needed to take more seriously.

No doubt there were habits that you needed to shed, whether they were time wasters or simply unhealthy.

There are always areas we want to improve: marriage, time with children, relationships, work, and many others.

Then, of course, there is the spiritual side of things.

Our prayer life, devotional Bible reading, faithfulness, ministry, the quality of our relationship with Jesus, the level of obedience and sacrifice—all these areas need to be evaluated from time to time.

At the beginning of a new year, we want to start fresh and initiate what it will take to have a great year.

Well, how is that going?

A second evaluation at the halfway point is in order.

That is what teams do at halftime.

What is working?

What is not working?

What do we need to change?

What are we allowing the other team to take advantage of?

Take some time to meditate on this. Maybe 15 to 30 minutes. Give it serious and deep thought.

Grade yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 in every area where you determined change was needed.

Then you can evaluate, recalibrate, and have another new beginning on this July 3rd.

The exact halfway point of a 365-day year is July 2nd at 12 p.m. So we are in the first few ticks of the second half.

Let’s make it the best half—the best part of our year.

Scripture Focus

Proverbs 16:3 (AMP)

“Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].”

Today’s Challenge

Take inventory today.

Look honestly at your life, your relationships, your habits, and your walk with God.

What needs to change?

What needs to be strengthened?

What needs to be surrendered?

Commit your plans and works to the Lord, respond to His will and guidance, and make the second half of this year the strongest part of your year.