Proclaim!

It’s been four years since I’ve been here to share. Four long years and so much has changed in those years. Changes within me. Changes in our world. Changes in our family. So much change.

My last entry ended with, “Wait”. The Lord gave me a time of waiting and I didn’t even know on what. Looking back I can see He had a lot of work to do in me. I spent a good amount of time with Him. I spent a good amount of time working on our farm. I stepped away from some other interests. It was a time to “Wait.”

I’ve been sensing the past few months that God is ready for me to begin writing again. After a delightful time of sitting in a nearby coffee shop, visiting with a cousin and sister in Christ, my word for 2022 came into my spirit: Proclaim! Proclaim what? After praying and listening, more was added: The Year of the Lord’s Favor. Interesting. This is now 2022 and the past two years have NOT felt like the Lord’s favor was upon them. Maybe now things are shifting. Maybe now change is coming.

A few days ago I decided to search, “Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” and up pops Isaiah 61:2: “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” and then goes on to say, “and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn” (NIV). Yikes! There’s much written in that verse! Yet, it’s what the Lord led me to. I found it intriguing that Isaiah 61:2 is the verse that includes the phrase the Spirit gave me. Many years ago God gave me Isaiah 61:3 as a life verse; a verse we have as the foundation of our farm; a verse that is inscribed under plastered walls in the center of our house, “and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” (NIV) It’s the last part of that verse that still stirs within my spirit!

Where will all this lead and what does God want to share with me, and ultimately with you? I am on the journey. However, one thing is for sure. He has grown weary of me sitting and not writing and being silent. He prompted me strongly in August 2019 to write a word and I was disobedient and did not. I have repented and received His mercy and forgiveness.

This time around I will be obedient. The prompting has come and it’s time. After what we have all been through these past two years, my “wait” is over. I am Proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor in 2022!