Every December, I pray for God to give me a new word for the up coming year.
For 2013, my word was BELIEVE. I had no idea how I would be tested in the area of belief! But I guess you can’t really master a word if there aren’t any trials. Mark 9:14-29 was my “go to” passage as I constantly asked the Lord to “help me overcome my unbelief.
As I sought the Lord for a new word for 2014, I received the word in October of 2013. It came early compared to the previous year. It’s like the Lord was giving my heart some time to prepare….because it was a “big” word. The word was TRUST for this past year. I even felt a little fearful last 
December because I knew how I had been tested as I focused on BELIEVE! I couldn’t imagine what I’d have to go through in the area of TRUST. And I was right. Boy, some of those storms and trials were doozies!! But guess what?!? I trust God like I never have before in my life! Hallelujah!
And now for 2015…. Well, I had made up my mind that my word would be honor. Only I had not prayed about it like I had the last couple of years. I remember it like it was yesterday. One December morning, I walked into my bathroom and was thinking about my new word. And then it hit me. I had never asked God about the word HE had for me! It still chokes me up to think about how I had left Him completely out of it. So, I said, “God, I am so sorry! I never even asked You if You had a word for me. I just kinda picked one that ‘sounded good’. Do You have a word for me?”
There was no lingering moment of silence, but rather a thunderous bolt with the word in big, black, block letters…
BEHOLD
I gasped out loud, and stopped in my tracks. And my first response?? I turned my palms up and shrugged my shoulders, furrowed my brows and said, “What kind of word is that???” Immediately, I had an overwhelming pit in my stomach. The one where you know that you just grieved the Holy Spirit. The Almighty God, Creator of the universe, just spoke to me and in a moment of pride, I deemed it not good enough. I can’t tell you how many times I have cried over my initial response. I don’t stand under condemnation because I know I’m forgiven, but my heart has been so tender toward the Lord over the last few weeks because of that teachable moment.
It’s funny. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen the word BEHOLD on cups, shirts, wooden plaques, framed art, in Scripture, on Instagram….you name it. It’s been in my face! Affirmation after affirmation.
The Lord is so good, and I’m thankful His mercies are new each and every day!
A passage of Scripture that goes with my new word is from Isaiah 43:18-19. I’m claiming the promise that He’s doing something new! I love His promises!
“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. BEHOLD, I will do something new, now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.“
Isn’t that just so good?? It’s because it is so GOD! It’s HIS word!! I’m so glad I asked Him…and to think I almost didn’t.
Here is a passage that I’m making personal to me and declaring over myself in 2015. It’s from Revelation 3:8.
“BEHOLD I have set before you an open door [Leigh-Taylor], which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Happy New Year, friends! May we take plenty of moments to BEHOLD Him in 2015!
Amen.
SIFTED 