Podcast Summary
Podcast: Jack Hibbs Podcast
Episode: A New Beginning That Lasts
Host: Jack Hibbs
Date: January 1, 2026
Overview
In this New Year's episode, Pastor Jack Hibbs offers encouragement and challenge as he addresses the desire for a fresh start and the realities of time, regret, and spiritual growth. Drawing from Psalm 65:11 ("You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance"), Hibbs shares personal anecdotes, spiritual insights, warnings about deception in today's culture, and practical advice for entering a new year with intention, faith, and renewal in Christ.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Desire for a Fresh Start ([01:04])
- Hibbs begins by acknowledging the universal feeling of wanting to "restart" at the year's end.
- He warns against the illusion that a calendar change alone erases past mistakes.
- Memorable analogy: a young man wrecks a Lamborghini, paralleling self-inflicted life crashes due to poor choices and peer pressure.
"Maybe you got into a situation that you don't think you can get out of ... as we come to a year’s end and a year beginning, how do we mitigate really what was a hopeful thing ... into a compounding bad thing?" (Jack Hibbs, 01:58)
2. God’s Goodness and the Power of Psalm 65:11 ([04:15])
- Hibbs urges listeners to memorize Psalm 65:11 and believe that God is able to bring goodness and abundance into each year, irrespective of the past.
- Spiritual encouragement to "hang onto this verse ... forever, until Christ comes for you."
- Suggests intentionally seeking God's goodness in every season ahead.
3. Imperfection of Time Management ([06:00])
- Acknowledges that humans struggle with managing time, regardless of profession or expertise.
- Observes that time can feel slow during hardship or illness, and overly quick in periods of busyness.
"We are all struggling with the time issue. And that compounds the pressure of life." (Jack Hibbs, 07:13)
- Encourages surrendering time and seasons to God as "the father of time" (referencing Isaiah 9:6 & Romans).
4. Seasons of Life and Asking God for Purpose ([10:30])
- Urges reflection on the past year to identify what needs to change for a better start to the new year.
- Emphasizes asking God not just "what to accomplish," but "what to accomplish in this season."
- Shares personal transition: giving away cherished belongings to grandchildren as a recognition of life stages and shifting purpose.
"Ask the Lord this year, what is it ... you want me to accomplish in this season for my life?" (Jack Hibbs, 12:28)
5. Making Spiritual Time Count ([15:00])
- Calls out time spent on "big fat zero" activities such as excessive gaming, contrasting such use with service in God’s kingdom.
"If you spend an hour every day ... gaming, that’s lost time that will never come back. And it was a big fat zero for kingdom expansion and kingdom purposes." (Jack Hibbs, 15:58)
- Challenges listeners to count remaining weekends, Christmases, and Mondays, driving home the brevity and stewardship of life.
6. Forget “Resolutions”—Focus on Renewal ([17:45])
- Mocks the futility of typical New Year’s resolutions and their inevitable failure.
- Instead, advocates for biblical renewal, referencing Philippians and Psalm 65:11.
"Don’t hit reset. Don’t rewind. Renew." (Jack Hibbs, 19:00)
- Encourages making a "physical memorial" or monument to mark spiritual renewal, sharing personal stories about meaningful places and their significance in his life and family.
7. The Necessity of Discernment in Today’s Deceptive World ([23:00])
- Warns about the pervasiveness of manipulation, misinformation, and spiritual deception in modern culture.
- Shares a personal story: discovering his sermons on a European radio station had been misappropriated and altered to fit a false narrative.
"Without the Holy Spirit and knowledge of the Bible, you’re not going to make it. I honestly believe that." (Jack Hibbs, 24:09)
- Urges listeners to assume what they see and hear is false until tested by the Holy Spirit and the Bible.
8. Leaving the Past Behind—But Not Denying It ([27:05])
- Clarifies the biblical instruction to "forget what is behind" (as in Philippians); not denial, but refusing to let past hurts and mistakes control or define the future.
- Stresses the value of learning from past pain and failures, forgiving, and refusing to be a "spectator Christian."
"Forget means to put off to the side, not forget like it never happened." (Jack Hibbs, 28:01)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "Can you make my life ... make the minutes and the hours matter?" (Jack Hibbs, 13:32)
- "As long as your heart’s beating, there’s something that God wants you to do. Don’t sit it out. There’s no such thing as being a spectator Christian." (Jack Hibbs, 20:38)
- "The greatest way to experience success this year with Christ is to have learned from our mistakes of this last year." (Jack Hibbs, 28:35)
- "Only the Holy Spirit will be able to find it [the truth] for you." (Jack Hibbs, 25:50)
Important Segment Timestamps
- [01:04] – New Year reflections and the “crashed Lamborghini” life analogy
- [05:30] – Reading and emphasizing Psalm 65:11
- [07:13] – Struggles with time management and its impact
- [12:28] – Praying for seasonal guidance and personal reflection
- [15:58] – Rebuke against wasting time, challenge toward spiritual productivity
- [19:00] – Shifting from resolutions to spiritual renewal
- [21:40] – Power of “physical memorials” and significant life places
- [24:09] – On the need for discernment and the work of the Holy Spirit
- [25:50] – Personal anecdote about sermon misrepresentation on foreign radio
- [28:01] – Healthy biblical approach to the past
- [31:02] – Closing prayer of consecration for the new year
Closing Prayer ([31:02])
Jack Hibbs closes with a prayer, dedicating the new year to God, asking for an "EPI" (anointing of the Holy Spirit upon), and praying that listeners would "walk under the spout where the glory comes out," seeking and following God's will in all things.
Summing Up: Action Steps from the Episode
- Memorize Psalm 65:11 and lean into God's promised goodness and abundance.
- Reflect intentionally on the past year—lessons learned, habits to change, seasons to discern.
- Commit to spiritual renewal rather than making fleeting resolutions.
- Steward your time wisely, using your gifts for kingdom purpose.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit and scripture to navigate deception and discern truth.
- Mark your renewal with a personal or physical reminder of God’s faithfulness.
- Leave the past behind not by denial, but by refusing it the power to shape your future.
"As we dedicate ourselves to you in this new year, we ask you to come upon us with the power of your Holy Spirit ... that we might live for you, Lord Jesus." (Jack Hibbs, 31:15)
Happy and holy New Year!
(Jack Hibbs, 31:29)