Word

"Word"

Many of us like having a "word" for the year. A single word or even a phrase from the Lord just for us; it is part prophesy, part GPS. If you decide to ask God for a special word just for you, it can be a personal, intimate reminder that you aren't going in to this year alone. The One who knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning is giving you a "sneak peak" of what's to come.

2021 will be my third year asking God for my "word" for the year. At the end of 2018, I noticed several friends talking about their word and decided, "why not?" I saw someone post a quiz from a Christian website to help you determine your word for 2019, and who doesn't love a good online quiz? I took it, and the answer was "Courage." Ok, whatever, didn't make sense to me but decided to go with it. I kind of tucked it in the back of my mind and went on with my life. Then, as 2019 progressed, a still small voice asked me...

"Do you have the courage to quit your comfortable job and jump in to full time ministry?"

"Do you have the courage to make this thing legit and not a hobby?"

"Do you have the courage to hop on a plane and fly across the country for the first time in your adult life to chase your dream?"

"Do you have the courage to believe in your healing and act on it?"

With trepidation, I answered each question with "Yes, Lord. Here I am, send me."

As 2019 rolled to a close, I was excited for 2020 (weren't we all? Such innocent times...)

Driving down the highway one day listening to a podcast, someone said the word "new" and in my spirit I just KNEW that my word for 2020 was new. I wasn't asking, He just told me. So, once again, I tucked it in the back of my mind and waited to see what was coming.

I. Had. No. Idea.

Let's be honest. None of us did. Now, we are all familiar with the new buzz phrase of the year "new normal" and yes, I indeed fall in that category as well. 2020 has brought much more new into my life that had nothing to do with Covid as well.

Joey got a new job in a new career with a new schedule....after over 10 years at the same place and several on the same shift.

I got a new car (that is just fun fact).

We decided to move to a new town and buy our first house, after living in the same place not only of 11 years, but I grew up there.

Eli had to get a new doctor after having the same one with us ever since we first heard the phrase "Your son has autism."

With the disruptions of the year, Eli has an entirely NEW therapy schedule and isn't doing public school (routines are a big NEW in our autism household)

Speaking of that kid, he has gained some incredible new skills this year <3

Old relationships have chosen to move away from us, and God is strengthening bonds with new important people in our lives.

When I stop to think about it, there isn't much in our lives right now that look anything like they did one year ago. We saw none of this coming as 2020 dawned and I wrote our scripture for the year on our calendar, "Behold! I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19)

He has been doing something new, sometimes I perceived it in the moment and sometimes hind sight has been 2020. Regardless, in each new thing he has made a way and watered our dry lands.

Now, we see 2021 peaking around the horizon. Hesitantly and yet expectantly, I asked God last week what my word for 2021 will be. Immediately He said, "Your word is The Word."

Yes, I started to argue that that didn't make sense. Yes, he hushed me up and held His ground. Now, I am starting to see it.

One of the first verses I ever memorized after the Lord's Prayer and John 3:16 was Psalm 119:105KJV. I was in early elementary school at Awana. I remember standing in the basement of a church that has since been torn down, the church were I was baptized, reciting:

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105KJV.

This year will not be guided by anything but The Word.

Strong's defines these three definitions of "word" in scripture:

דָּבָרdâbâr, daw-baw'; from H1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:—act, advice, affair, answer, × any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, chronicles, commandment, × commune(-ication), concern(-ing), confer, counsel, dearth, decree, deed, × disease, due, duty, effect, eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, glory, harm, hurt, iniquity, judgment, language, lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, × ought, × parts, pertaining, please, portion, power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, × (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, sign, so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, song, speech, × spoken, talk, task, that, × there done, thing (concerning), thought, thus, tidings, what(-soever), wherewith, which, word, work.

λόγοςlógos, log'-os; from G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):—account, cause, communication, × concerning, doctrine, fame, × have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, × speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

ῥῆμαrhēma, hray'-mah; from G4483; an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever:—+ evil, + nothing, saying, word.

I am excited to see how each definition unfolds this year as I go back to my roots, back to the beginning, back to that verse I learned when I was eight years old.

Lord, let your words be my lamp and my light in 2021