2017: the year of understanding
It began when a friend from church offered some unique handmade leather bound journals for sale. Of course, I wanted one, so I ordered one. I have to buy myself at least one Christmas present.
Part of the journal’s decoration is a stamped metal tag. I had the opportunity of choosing a word to have stamped on it.
“Ask Holy Spirit, He will tell you.”
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The words are “Unlock Mysteries”. I am very much a words guy. I also love one liners, and as soon as I saw those words, I knew Holy Spirit had given my friend the right words.
I was reasonably sure I knew what “unlocking mysteries” might be all about.
I have been mulling over those two words.
This evening, I had a few moments to “pause and reflect.” So, I turned on some instrumental worship music and asked Papa “What is your word or phrase for me, for 2017?”
Instantly: “Underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Ok, cool. But somewhat underwhelming. (Yes, you saw what I did there.) I looked it up, Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is no one like God, O Jeshurun (a sort of pet name that God used for Israel that basically means, “upright one”), who rides through the sky to help you, on clouds of majesty. The everlasting God is a refuge and underneath are his eternal arms…”
Ok… Papa obviously knows how my mind works. I like words and have a strangely developed alertness to odd patterns.
Unlock. Underneath. Hmmmm.
I allowed my mind to go into “list mode”. What are some things that are either already unlocked and ready to enter into, or things that I get to “unlock” in 2017?
Weird, but that is how it came out in my mind.
Unhindered access
Unhindered resources
Unhindered entrance
Untapped storehouses
Unrealized potential
Unrestrained worship
Undivided attention
Undefeated Warrior
Unstoppable Power
Wow. ok. That list came out rather quick.
My mind grasps things of this sort if they are in groups of three, loosely arranged.
There were only two, that I could tell, so far.
“Unlock mysteries”
“Underneath are the everlasting arms”
Papa, what is the third one? I am not sure I understand what you are saying.
Suddenly it hit me.
Understanding! That was the missing word, and it suddenly slipped into place and made the rest make sense.
So what does understanding have to do with this?
“You will find favor and good understanding…” I knew that was in Proverbs, somewhere.
Loosely stated, “favor” is momentum. And understanding is “standing with something solid under you.”
I would like to think there is some “momentum” in my life, that is blessed by Papa. It would be a good thing to have something solid underneath me as I “unlock the mysteries” that are waiting to be realized and revealed in the new year.
Understanding, whatever else 2017 is the year of, I pray it is a year of understanding.
Happy New Year!
