#1 Berjalan dalam Kebenaran (Walking in Truth)

The central theme is that to enter the new year (a metaphor for a new season or journey) successfully, one must "Walk in Truth" rather than walk in "Habit" (Kebiasaan). Mrs. Dharmawan emphasizes that entering the "Gate of Truth" requires the specific key of living in truth, not just relying on past routines or religious activities.

She uses Psalm 25:4-5 to outline how God guides us:

1. "Show Me" (Beritahukanlah): We must ask to know God's ways (process), not just His acts (miracles/results).

2. "Teach Me & Lead Me" (Tunjukkanlah & Bawalah): God teaches us through experience. Struggles are not signs of abandonment but "training grounds" to make us stronger.

3. "Instruct Me" (Ajarlah): We must be willing to receive correction early—from reading the Word or from mentors—before we have to be corrected by painful life events.

She also distinguishes between a "Spotlight" (which shows the whole future) and a "Lamp" (Pelita, which shows only the next step). Walking in truth means trusting the "Lamp" for the immediate next step.

As a prospective PhD student, I am preparing to enter a long, rigorous intellectual journey. Here is how the sermon’s principles apply to my role:

1. Seek the "Way" (Method), Not Just the "Act" (Result)

• Sermon Concept: The speaker warns against only asking for God's "miracles" (results) without wanting to know His "ways" (the path/process).

• PhD Application: It is easy to fixate on the final result—getting the acceptance letter, the scholarships/grants, or the "Dr." title. However, a true scholar falls in love with the process (the "ways" of research).

  • Takeaway: I need to shift my mindset from "I need to get into a program" to "I need to learn how to think and work like a researcher." Focus on mastering the methodology and discipline now. The result is just a byproduct of walking the "way" correctly.

2. The "Lamp" Mentality: Managing Uncertainty

• Sermon Concept: God’s guidance is often like a "Lamp" (Pelita) that illuminates only the immediate next step, not a giant spotlight that reveals the entire future at once. This prevents us from being overwhelmed or careless.

• PhD Application: Research is inherently uncertain. I will rarely know exactly how my dissertation will end or where my career will be in 5 years. This "fog" often causes anxiety for me.

  • Takeaway: Don't be paralyzed because I can't see the finish line. I only need enough light for the next step. Just write the next email to a professor, read the next paper, or draft the next paragraph of my statement. Trust that the path will reveal itself one step at a time.

3. Correction is "Nutrition" for Growth

• Sermon Concept: Mrs. Dharmawan states, "Correction is nutrition for growth." She explains three levels of correction: (1) Self-correction from reading/learning, (2) Correction from mentors/others, and (3) Correction through painful disaster. She urges us to accept levels 1 and 2 to avoid level 3.

• PhD Application: In academia, feedback is often harsh. Rejection is the norm. If I view critique as a personal attack, I will not survive.

  • Takeaway: Develop a thick skin and a teachable heart now. When a professor tears apart my draft or an application is rejected, view it as "nutrition." It is the fastest way to grow. Seek out critical feedback ("Level 2 correction") on my proposal before I submit it, rather than waiting for the "disaster" ("Level 3") of a rejection letter.

#2 Extra Last Push

The core message of this sermon is about the "Extra Last Push" (or Final Push)—the intense, all-out effort required in the final 17 days of the year (or any closing season) to finish strong. Mrs. Dharmawan uses the analogy of a marathon runner sprinting to the finish line or a mother in the final stages of labor: there are no reserves left; I give everything I have.

The goal of this "push" is to ensure I "Melesat" (Shoot forward/Excel) rather than "Meleset" (Miss the mark). She warns against becoming "Kekenyangan" (Over-full/Complacent) with blessings, which leads to unproductiveness. Instead, one should remain hungry for God's guidance ("Tuntunan") rather than just making demands ("Tuntutan").

As a prospective PhD student, I am in a "closing season" of my current phase (PhD/work) and preparing for a massive new chapter. Here is how the "Extra Last Push" applies to me:

1. "Melesat" vs. "Meleset" (Excel vs. Miss the Mark)

• Sermon Concept: The speaker warns that in the final days; one can easily miss the mark ("Meleset") by becoming complacent or distracted by celebrations. The goal is to use the final time to "Melesat" (shoot forward like an arrow) by reviewing the past and correcting course.

• PhD Application: In the months before my PhD starts, do not coast. It is easy to think, "I'm already accepted, I can relax." That is "Meleset."

  • Takeaway: Use this time to "Melesat": I need to deepen my technical skills (coding, stats, languages) now while I have free time. If I enter the program sharp and prepared, I shoot forward. If I enter rusty, I miss the mark and spend the first year playing catch-up.

2. Avoid the "Kekenyangan" (Complacency) Trap

• Sermon Concept: Mrs. Dharmawan distinguishes between being "Kenyang" (Satisfied/Blessed) and "Kekenyangan" (Over-stuffed/Gluttonous). A person who is "Kekenyangan" becomes lazy, sleepy, and unproductive. They consume blessings but produce nothing.

• PhD Application: I may have received the "blessing" of acceptance. Do not let this make me "Kekenyangan" (intellectually lazy).

  • Takeaway: Stay hungry. The acceptance letter is not the trophy; it's the ticket to the fight. If I walk in feeling like I've already "made it," I will stop producing. Maintain the hunger of an applicant even after I become a student.

3. Seek "Tuntunan" (Guidance), Not "Tuntutan" (Demands)

• Sermon Concept: As we face pressure, our prayers often turn into "Tuntutan" (Demands/Complaints) rather than "Tuntunan" (Guidance/Direction). The speaker urges the congregation to ask God for the path, not just the result.

• PhD Application: In research, I will often demand results: "Why isn't this experiment working?" "I need this data now!" This mindset leads to burnout and frustration ("Tuntutan").

  • Takeaway: Shift my mindset to seeking "Tuntunan" (Guidance). When stuck, ask: "What is this data trying to tell me?" "Where should I pivot?" Seek mentorship and guidance from my advisor rather than just demanding that things go my way. This flexibility is the hallmark of a successful researcher.

#3 Kerelaan dan Keberanian (Willingness and Courage)

Mrs. Dharmawan defines a "Hero of Faith" (Pahlawan Iman) as someone who combines these two traits. She uses the Hebrew word "Gibor", which has a dual meaning:

1. Strong Man: One who is trained and strengthened through struggles (the "gym" of life).

2. Brave Man: One who moves forward with a clear purpose—fighting for truth, humanity, and justice—rather than just moving recklessly.

The message emphasizes that scars and struggles are not signs of failure, but proof that I have fought and survived to become stronger.

As I stand on the threshold of a PhD program (my "2026"), here is how these spiritual principles translate to my academic journey:

1. The "Gym" of Rejection and Struggle

• Sermon Concept: The speaker explains that a "Strong Man" (Gibor) becomes strong only through training. In life, the "training ground" is struggle and difficulty. She notes that trial and error does not exist in a believer's life; instead, it is "Trial and Improve."

• PhD Application: I will face rejection—rejected applications, rejected grants, or rejected papers. Do not view these as "errors" or signs I don't belong. View them as my "gym." Every rejection is a rep that builds the intellectual muscle and resilience required to defend a dissertation later. Adopt the "Trial and Improve" mindset: every "no" is data on how to get to a "yes."

2. Courage vs. Recklessness (Brave vs. Nekat)

• Sermon Concept: A "Brave Man" moves forward with a specific purpose (Truth, Humanity, Justice). Moving forward without a purpose is not bravery; it is just recklessness (nekat).

• PhD Application: Don't enter a PhD program just because I don't know what else to do, or just to get a title. That is reckless ("nekat") and will lead to burnout.

  • Takeaway: Be "Brave" by defining my purpose now. Know exactly why I am doing this (e.g., to solve a specific problem, to help a specific community). When the work gets hard, this clear purpose will keep I anchored, whereas mere recklessness will fade.

3. Willingness to Evaluate (Self-Correction)

• Sermon Concept: "Kerelaan" (Willingness) is needed to look back at the last 11 months and evaluate honestly. I cannot fix what I do not acknowledge.

• PhD Application: Before I start my PhD, be willing to brutally evaluate my current skills. Where am I weak? Is it academic writing? Is it statistics? Is it time management?

  • Takeaway: Don't carry these weaknesses into the program hoping they will magically disappear. Have the "willingness" to acknowledge them now and use this time to take courses or read books to address them before the pressure of the PhD begins.

1. Meditate (Renungkan): deeply thinking about the instruction day and night.

2. Sing (Nyanyikan): using melody to aid memory (Colossians 3:16).

3. Experience (Pengalaman): learning through doing, even if the experience is painful (Isaiah 48:17).

4. Proclaim (Beritakan): teaching or sharing the truth with others reinforces your own understanding.

As a prospective PhD student, I am about to enter a long, undefined journey similar to the "new year" described in the sermon. Here is how the spiritual principles translate to my academic role:

1. "Provisions" Must Be Packed Before the Journey Starts

• Sermon Concept: Mrs. Dharmawan emphasizes that "Bekal" (supplies) are never prepared after the trip has started I must prepare my heart and mind now for the year 2026.

• PhD Application: Do not wait until my first day of class or my first lab session to "act" like a PhD student. Use this "prospective" time to build my "Bekal":

  • Literature Review: Start reading the foundational papers now.

  • Mental Resilience: Build the habits of discipline and schedule management today.

  • Takeaway: The quality of my PhD start depends entirely on the preparation I do right now in the "waiting zone."

2. The "Neck" Analogy: Controlling My Intellectual Focus

• Sermon Concept: The speaker explains the command to "bind [truth] around your neck" She uses the analogy of a glasses chain—it keeps your vision tool close. More importantly, she notes that the neck turns the head. If I bind truth to your neck, your focus (head) will not be easily distracted by the "left and right."

• PhD Application: In academia, "Shiny Object Syndrome" is dangerous. I will be tempted by hundreds of interesting papers, side projects, or the successes of other students (comparison).

  • Takeaway: I must "bind" my specific research interest and my "Why" to my neck. Force my focus to stay on my gap in the literature and my unique contribution, refusing to turn my head toward impostor syndrome or irrelevant distractions.

3. Mastery Through Teaching (The "Feynman Technique")

• Sermon Concept: The fourth way to make a teaching stick is to "Beritakan" (Proclaim/Teach it) Mrs. Dharmawan notes that she learns 7x faster when she has to teach the material rather than just memorizing it.

• PhD Application: As a prospective student, I am moving from a consumer of knowledge to a producer/teacher of it.

  • Takeaway: Don't just passively read research papers. Practice explaining them to friends, writing blog posts, or presenting them in a mock setting. I only truly understand a complex theory when I can teach it to someone else. This is the fastest way to bridge the gap from "student" to "scholar."

The core message centers on the concept of "Langkah" (Steps)—taking intentional, faithful actions to move from one season into the next. Entering a new year (or a new life phase like 2026) is not passive; it requires preparation, leaving behind past failures or complacencies, and walking with a clear vision of where God is leading. The message encourages listeners not to fear the future but to step into it with confidence, preparation, and a reliance on divine guidance rather than just human strength.

Here are key takeaways for me as a prospective PhD student.

1. Define My Vision (The "Why" Behind the Step)

• Sermon Concept: I cannot enter a new year successfully without knowing where I am going. "Langkah" implies direction.

• PhD Application: A PhD is a marathon, not a sprint. Before I start, clarify my "why." AM I pursuing this for career advancement, passion for research, or a specific calling? When the work gets difficult (and it will), this clear vision will be the anchor that keeps me moving forward, just as a believer holds onto a prophetic vision for the new year.

2. Preparation Prevents Stagnation

• Sermon Concept: "Entering" requires preparation. I don't just "end up" in a good year; I prepare my heart and mind for it.

• PhD Application: Success in a doctoral program is often determined before I even enroll. Use this "prospective" phase to build my foundations: read the literature, research potential supervisors, and develop the mental resilience I will need. Don't wait until Day 1 to start thinking like a scholar; take those "steps" now to ensure I enter the program running, not stumbling.

3. Faith Over Fear of the Unknown

• Sermon Concept: The future (2026) is unknown, but faith allows us to step into it without fear.

• PhD Application: Imposter syndrome is common for PhD students. I may fear I am not smart enough or that the research is too hard. This message reminds me to walk by faith, not by sight. Trust in the preparation I have done and the abilities I have been given. View the unknown elements of my research not as threats, but as the very territory I am called to conquer and chart.

Closure

Reading through these takeaways confirmed that I am on the right path to my PhD. I am setting my sights on my 2029 vision, but above all, I trust Jesus' process. I am following His designated blueprint for my life. May Jesus bless us.