The word of the year for 2018 is:

“Stand”

“Stand” is a verb.  “Stand” means to:

• to stand still, stop moving, stop doing.
• to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast.
• to be in an upright position on the feet.
• to rise to one’s feet.
• to present (one) before (king).
• to appoint, ordain, establish.
• to stand, take one’s stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of.
• a determined policy, position, attitude, etc., taken or maintained.
• to stop or remain motionless or steady on the feet.
• to take a position or place as indicated.
• to remain firm or steadfast, as in a cause.
• to endure or undergo without harm or damage or without giving way.
• to be in an upright or vertical position, be set on end, or rest on or as on a support.
• to be set, placed, fixed, located, or situated.
• to take up or maintain a position or attitude with respect to a person, issue, or the like.
• to have, or to adopt a certain policy, course, or attitude, as of adherence, support, opposition, or resistance.   “stand” meanings from both Blue Letter Bible and Dictonary.com

I believe this prophetic Word Of The Year is for the entire Christian body of the Bride of Christ.  It is time for the Bride to STAND.  The Bride is to stand firm and set apart as a light in a dark world.   Standing requires unwavering faith in Father God.

One of my favorite verses is “Be still, (stand still) and know that I am God.”

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ”   Psalm 46:10

Faith is standing in knowing 100% that God is in control. No matter what the circumstances around you look like.  You might find yourself in similar situations to people mentioned in the bible or in modern situations that look different from history such as being in a life threatening illness like Job, a king’s court like Esther, or a lion’s den like Daniel, or a death sentence in furnace for refusing to bow to another god like Shad-rack Me-shack and Abednego, or being tempted while on a 40 Day journey of prayer and fasting like Jesus, or in jail like Paul, or a drought, famine, hurricane, tornado, economic crash, job loss, ship wreck, car crash, illness, job promotion, cross country journey, etc.  No matter what situation you find yourself in, believe without a doubt that Father God is in control, and he will will never leave you, and will see you through the situation and he will finish the good work he began in your life.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. 

Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”    Psalm 46

Faith is trusting in Father God to be the only God over all of my life.  I am not the provider, He is.  I am not the healer, He is.  I am not the one who created everything, He did.  I am not the one who controls the situation, He is.  This requires my faith to stand firm and trust Him without wavering or doubt.  It also requires my faith to stand firm and obey His commands, even when it is inconvenient and different than the culture around me.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to STAND your ground, and after you have done everything, to STAND.”    Ephesians 6:12-13

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart”   Psalm 119: 1-2

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”   Revelation 3: 7-13

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted (standing) by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.”  Psalm 1: 1-3

Be encouraged.

Stand!

Be wise and be blessed!