“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:9 AMPC)
Several years ago I was introduced to the idea of a “Word of the Year.” In practice, this means to pray and ask God for a word of direction for yourself in the new year. In the fall of 2019 I heard in my spirit the word “buckle.” I sat with that word for several months, not really knowing what that meant. My first impression was “buckle up; it’s going to be a wild ride.” But, a wise and godly prophetic friend suggested I look at “buckle” as God was getting ready to take me new places, to see new sights, to experience new things. Just as you’d buckle up to take that car ride or plane ride to a new vacation site, she invited me to see “buckle” as an opportunity to see the new things that God has to show me.
Looking back, 2020 and following has been “a wild ride,” but it’s also been full of new and wondrous God-things. Without enumerating all of them, the overall trajectory has been that each of us in our family have found ourselves much more closely aligned with God, more spiritually attuned to His Voice, and generally walking closer with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. When I was told to “buckle up,” it really was because God had new and wonderful things to give us.
As we close out this calendar year and prepare to enter 2023, I am mulling over what – if any – word on which God wants me to focus my spirit next year. A few come to mind but I haven’t come to a conclusion as to where God is leading. As the busyness of the Christmas season subsides, hopefully, I will understand what God says. I invite you to consider for yourself what word God might be whispering into your spirit that would help lead you into the new ahead.
“Son [or Daughter] of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel [the Church] all that you see.” (Ezekiel 40:4 NASB)
Creative God,
Thank you for creating each of us in your image, including with eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank you for the callings you have on our lives and for your continued direction. As we close out this year and enter into 2023, may our spiritual eyes and ears be attuned to your Voice. Give us the faith and courage to go forward as you lead, declaring your message to the Church and the Lost, and doing justice, loving kindness and mercy, and walking humbly with you. Help us to move forward into the New as light in the dark, freedom to captives, and life to those who walk with you. We ask in Christ’s name, AMEN!
“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NASB)
“This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: ‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.’” (Isaiah 42:5-9 NIV)