Word for 2022: RETURN

As we turned the corner into the new year, I was reading in Ezra about the pausing of the rebuilding of the temple. They paused the work because of fear, opposition, the weakening of their hands, discouragement, and comparison (to Solomon’s temple before). I sensed the Lord saying to me, “RETURN. Return to the work of the building of the temple.”

So my word for 2022 is RETURN. What I sense is that there is a call to me (to us) to return to the work of the Lord. Return to the work of building the temple. In some ways, it will look different for all of us in how it is executed or the specific fruit it will produce. But it is the same in that the foundation is Jesus, the cornerstone. We build on that foundation through our relationship with him, through a love of and time spent in scripture and prayer and worship. And as we do those things, we are tending to ourselves as the temple of the Lord with the Spirit dwelling inside of us. (1 Cor. 3:17, 1 Cor. 6:19, Eph. 2:20-22)

What work do I need to return to? Where are the places I’ve paused due to fear or discouragement or comparison? What is the work God has called me to specifically? Let us return!