Happy New Year 2017 - Our Annual Prophetic Post

HAPPY NEW YEAR, sweet readers!

2016, man!  It was rough.  From politics and elections, to violence and injustice, to finances and miscommunication... 
But God!

If you have been hanging around this little corner of the interwebs for very long then todays' post will come as no surprise! 





















It's the very beginning of a very brand new year! Blank Calendars, Day Planners, and Hope-filled Goals stare at us, full of anticipation and fresh starts!

No matter what 2016 held, here we stand with a clean slate, a new chapter, a brand new year...

New Years Day, for me, always starts out the same...

I ask the Lord for a word or phrase that will speak prophetically over this brand New Year.  I also ask Him to lead me to a book in the Bible that He wants highlighted through out the year.  Usually, they go hand in hand. He's pretty smart like that!

A year ago, the Lord said "Hope in God" would be a prophetic word and a powerful reminder we would need... and oh, how we needed it!

The Book in the Bible was 1 Timothy!  

You can read that original post HERE and ponder for yourself how it showed up in your own life, as well as around the world... 

For me? Well --I think for all of us, 2016 sort of required Hope in God, right? 

Reading through 1 Timothy several times last year reminded me that God knows what He's talking about and there were several verses in 1Timothy that ministered to (and challenged, because --hello, verses on women!) me through last year! From church leadership to a call to prayer to using the gifts we've been given and fighting the good fight of faith... such great Truth in Paul's letter to Timothy!

***

Remember in my OneWord reveal post, I said that I would expand on how perfect that Scripture was that He gave me for confirmation? I revealed that my Word for 2017 is Dwell and when I asked the Lord for a Scripture, He sent me to Psalm 27:4... which just so happens to have my OneWord (Dwell), my Honeys' OneWord (Behold), and the phrase I had been hearing for 2017!

As usual, I'd been praying for a prophetic word or phrase for all of us... one we can look for and anticipate... one we can make room for and put into practice.

This is what I heard for 2017:

--The Phrase:

"The Beauty of the Lord
will manifest everywhere you go!"

I'm not sure what visions surface for you when you read that phrase, but for me --I had two memories flash to the front of my mind from last year.

1. Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, and
2. Standing at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

When I think of "the beauty of the Lord," my initial thoughts are of creation and how breathtakingly gorgeous it is... on how one can stand at the edge and feel both oh so small, and yet also oh so cared for at the same time!

But this phrase means more than that!  In Scripture, when it talks about the beauty of the Lord, it is talking about the charm and goodness and excellence of God shining through... Literally, the beauty of the Lord is supposed to be seen IN US!  In how we live and move and have our being!  

I believe that in 2017, Kingdom people will rise up and the Bride of Christ will be radiant with the Love of God... people will be drawn to us because the Beauty of the Lord will manifest through us.  

They will look at us, 
  but they will see Him!

Next, I prayed and asked for the Book in the Bible that would have significance this year and again, ever so clearly, I heard His voice. But I've been reading through this particular book, and I have been hearing the Lord speak of increase in the coming year of signs and wonders, so I wasn't convinced it wasn't ME thinking this. So I prayed, and asked God to confirm this book was HIS pick, and not just mine! And confirm, He did... 

--The Book in the Bible:  The Acts of the Apostles

I went to bed last night having a pretty good idea of both the Prophetic Phrase and the Book of the Bible... but I waited... anticipating how He would send confirmation.

And this morning, at exactly 2:42 a.m., God woke me up to wide awake... when I turned over and looked at the clock, I knew!

Acts 2:42 reads:

"Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer." Acts 2:42 The Passion Translation

Of course... Acts 2:42-47 is all good and if that is how the Lord intends to kick off 2017, that is ALL GOOD with me!

"They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved." Acts 2:42-47 The Message

Amen? 

So, let's welcome 2017!
Honestly, y'all... I think it's going to be a really great year!

If you have not taken a moment or two to ask God if He has a word for you for 2017, I encourage you to do so! It can be just one single word, or a phrase that He wants to sow in to you this year!  

I will leave this song here to keep you company as you pray. This song... well, it's my OneWord for this year... and oh my, how I love it! (The Word, and the song!)

                                           Dwell by Casey Corum, Vineyard Music

Happy New Year, friends!
Let us continue to:


To read about my OneWord for 2017, click HERE and join the movement away from Resolutions, and into a changed life!

I'm linking up with the lovely writer communities linked below:

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday

Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp

LORI SCHUMAKER FOR #MOMENTSOFHOPE

Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

Holley Gerth for #CoffeeForYourHeart

#FreshMarketFriday...