My New One Word for 2014: "Strengthen"

Twice today God has spoken to me about being strengthened.  Yes, God does speak to me...audibly? Well, maybe not in the way you would think of audibly...but I did hear His voice speaking to me in my heart...and I knew it was from God.

Here are the words spoken to me today:

First, this verse, spoken to me from a little card with this verse written on it sitting upon my kitchen windowsill:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee."  Isaiah 41:10

Second:  these verses, spoken to me from the pulpit in church this morning through the voice of the minister, who, on this particular day, happened to be my husband:

"And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong'"  Daniel 10:19a

As I read the first verse while washing up the breakfast dishes I was struck by the message so clearly spoken to me that I had to come and share it on my Facebook page.  I was certain that it was a message not only for me, but for someone else today...someone facing some difficult decisions, situations, or perhaps serious health issues in the coming days...maybe even today.  I know that I took this message personally and for my family as we head into the New Year, knowing that my son is facing an uncertain future regarding his cancer treatment plan. (Read this previous post for more information on this).

Then again, I just learned from another dear friend whom I had not seen or heard from in several years...that he has recently been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and is now undergoing chemo hoping to stem the tide of this horrid disease.  And yet another friend who is possibly in the very last stages of liver cancer...actually I know of another one battling the same thing as well...  (I HATE cancer!)

There are others facing a big move to another state in the New Year...a major move in that they have not moved in many many years, so it will be a major adjustment...but hopefully a positive one for them as they will be moving closer to their family.  And today I just heard of a dear woman who is going to be moved to a nursing home within the next week as she is no longer able to care for herself and her family feels it will be in her best interest to be cared for in a nursing facility.

Others of you may be facing a job change, retirement...yes, I have a dear friend who has just retired so she can care for her husband (see above) who is in the final stages of liver cancer.  I know of another who would dearly love to retire this year if finances would permit him to...(I know of someone even closer to home (me?) who would love to do the same thing...but probably won't be able to for at least another year).

In the past couple of years I have chosen a "One Word" for the year to be the emphasis of my prayer life, writing, and reading for the year.  The first year the word was "Hope", and I was blessed by the hope fulfilled in my life throughout the year. (One Word for 2012 - Hope). Then in 2013 my "One Word" was "Presence"
One Word for 2013: Presence, and I was amazed by the "Presence" of God manifested to me throughout the year in so many places and ways.  

The last few days I have been pondering what my "One Word" for 2014 should be, and I really didn't have a clue...until this morning. Suddenly, there it was, on my windowsill (my "Open Window"?)... "I will strengthen thee..."...and then later this morning in the sermon: "Be Strong!".  If you complete that particular verse (Daniel 10:19) the next part says:

"So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

To "strengthen" is to "be strong"... I think Someone is telling me something important here, and I am listening. I re-read the first part of the Isaiah verse: 

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; and immediately I have a tendency to fear, because when God tells me not to be afraid, it probably means that something is about to happen that I most likely won't like...but immediately He calms my fears and says:

"for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee."  

Because my past experience with God has taught me that His Word is true, and He means what He says, I can rely on Him to do exactly what He says He will do, regardless of the circumstances or difficult issues that lie ahead. I do not need to fear or be dismayed, because He has promised to help me and to strengthen me...no matter what.

I hope that you have this same confidence in God.  If not, please place your trust in Him today. His promises are for you as well.  Wouldn't you love to start the New Year knowing that no matter what befalls you, you will be helped and strengthened by God Almighty?  

 "Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong"