Each New Year I prayerfully consider a word to reflect on throughout the next year, and often it becomes a prophetic fore-telling of the theme of my next season, so I try to pick something positive and dynamic.

In 2015, my word was “release,” and the Lord led and guided me in releasing my expectations for how I should be experiencing life, as well as taking me through some of the hidden hurts of my past and allowing me to receive His grace and healing insight within those memories. Transition is not always comfortable; and I definitely experienced a “shaking” of some areas of my life as I released old things and stepped into the new both emotionally and physically.

As I was praying about a word for the 2016, it was my natural desire to want a word along the lines of “abundance.” It is the year of Jubilee (having started last September), so I think we can expect good things; and of course I want this to be a year of excellence in my own life.

What I perceived the Lord saying was that this is a year of holiness.

Holiness has so many connotations: being dedicated and consecrated for a divine purpose, being set apart, separate, sacred, and hallowed. But I was also remembering something I read some time ago from Jack Hayford (Rebuilding the New You—a great book by the way!) about holiness being connected to wholeness since the Spirit desires to perfect us in His holiness by bringing us into the wholeness of Jesus.

In other words, in Jesus we are not just set apart unto ourselves, but set apart from the kingdom of the world and into the Kingdom of God. Heaven is at hand for those who believe, and in heaven—in Jesus—there is wholeness, including of our bodies, souls, and spirits (1 Thess. 5:23, Heb. 4:12). God’s people are also to be consecrated together into a community and holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-5).

The Lord wants us to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 11:4-35, 1 Peter 1:14-16, Mat. 5:44-48). This is part command, but also a prophetic desire from God for His people to choose Him. On our own we cannot make ourselves holy—and good luck for those taking a manpower approach to New Year’s resolutions! ;-). Is there any better gift than being so connected with God that His thoughts become our thoughts, and His desires our desires?! Thank God, He wants to help us to connect to Him thoroughly!!

I am praying this year for:

• deeper intimacy with God
• increased passion in worship and intercession
• unexpected new friends
• abundant life for my communities (church, family, friends, school, work, etc.)
• wholeness in my entire being, and
• an overflowing presence of His Spirit.

Happy 2016!

 

L’Shanah Tovah! Tonight is Rosh Hashanah, the head of the Jewish year, and beginning of the year 5776. This day (Tishrei 1st) is also called Yom Teruah—the day of shouting (also called the Feast of Trumpets). I have noticed that Christian/Messianic congregations often focus on celebrating from the perspective of Yom Teruah as there is so much eschatological significance; but I would like to express the depth and beauty of this holiday from a different angle.

Rosh Hashanah looks back to remember the beginning—how God created the heavens and the earth. Yet even though Rosh Hashanah begins the new year, it is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar, because after the creation came a re-creation. After the world and calendar was established, God declared that Nissan—the month in which Passover occurs—would be the first month; a new beginning (Ex. 12:2). So, just as we were born, and then are spiritually re-born in Messiah Jesus, so was the earth created, then “re-created” in the month of the Passover Lamb and exodus! Only believers can appreciate these parallels.

Rosh Hashanah also begins the important ten day period of the High Holidays, or Days of Awe, culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). This is a time of serious reflection and re-centering. We remember that God is the Creator of the universe, high above all else. We remember who He has created us to be within the world. We go back to a pure foundation of intimacy in Him through repentance (tashlich): casting aside the old, sinful, and not-beneficial, and anticipating instead the sweetness of the Lord, which we are invited to taste and see (Psalm 34:8).

As we enter into this exciting new season I pray that you would be blessed, strengthened, and awed by the beauty and glory of our Lord, who has created and called you to exciting new things in Him.