Theme for 2023!

Every year, I ask God for a theme that will be the focus for the year.

On January 1, 2023, I heard the theme will be “Eyes like Fire.”

Then He spoke to me “Revelation 21:7” so I looked it up and it reads “All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” The key word in that verse is “victorious.” So that means we could also not be victorious and not inherit those blessings.

To be victorious means to win the race. And the way to win is to discipline yourself daily. To walk in purity.

Jesus was said to appear with eyes like fire several times in Scripture. (Revelation 1:14; Daniel 7:9; Daniel 10:6; Revelation 19:12; Revelation 2:18; Matthew 28:3)

When I think of why His eyes looked like fire, I immediately think of a fire that purifies. That burns up all that was done for self and keeps all that was done for Him. Only the imperishable remains when we behold the King of Kings with eyes like fire.

The verses that came to mind were “To the pure you show yourself pure…” (Psalm 18:26) and “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

When we walk in purity, we see God purely and are blessed as result.

A lot of our purity comes down to what we look at. Just think about that for a minute. What do you watch on TV? What do you watch on your phone? What movies do you do see? Who did you keep staring at though you are married or they are married? What book did you read? What store did you go in? What shopping did you do? Who are you looking at on social media? What do you look at?

I must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. That’s how I can walk in purity. Our thoughts start our actions, so if we start at the thoughts, we should be on the way of purity.

Since our Father has eyes like fire, may it be said of me that she had her Dad’s eyes. I remember someone saying in Africa that they couldn’t look at my eyes when I talked to them, like the conviction was too much. It’s Jesus in us. There is nothing good in me, but I house the Holy Spirit. I recall several times in Scripture where Paul, Peter and John (Acts 3:4, Acts 14:9 and Acts 23:1) looked intently at others and that’s what I imagine God has for me this year.

I want to see things, people, situations and atmospheres as they are. You may see the shame on people’s faces, the sin they walk in, the gifts they have yet to open, the fear, the pride, yet you will also see the gold in them, the things they do well that reflect they are His children. Eyes that see sickness, sin, and demonic oppression and yet love wildly and forgive easy. Eyes that see all this and are accountable. Seeing this doesn’t mean I will say anything or do anything…unless He directs me. I see a lot I never say to anyone.

I want to have my Father’s eyes in 2023.

When we look at Jesus, we are purified. Think of Isaiah’s vision when he saw the Lord. Immediate repentance and then cleansing. Jesus reminded me that the Israelites looked at the bronze snake in the wilderness they would live instead of die. And he put both of these together and encouraged me “What you look at can make you live.” Whoa.

When you have eyes like fire you will see things clearly. In 2022, He had me focus on being Wide Awake. 2023 is building off of that theme. You must first be wide awake to see things clearly.

As I read the Bible this year, the Lord will be asking me “What do you see?” God would ask the prophets this question in the Bible. (Jeremiah 1:11, 1:13, 24:3, Amos 7:8)

It reminded me of a book I finished at the close of 2022, Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders. The summation was you can either choose to be a popular leader or an unpopular prophet. Usually you will do both at the same time, but when you reach a crossroads where you know your message will lose your popularity, there in lies your faithfulness or for some that choose popularity….their unfaithfulness.

I have passed this test before and I am fully aware that I could compromise in the future for a crowd, so Jesus keeps me on a tight leash where I will choose holiness, purity and His truth over anyone else. May it always remain that way.

This time with God reminded me of something He spoke to me in 2020 “Better to persecuted than praised.” May I always remember this.

And if I keep going this way, beholding the King with eyes like fire, I will live. I will be entrusted with revival and steward it well. I will live for an audience of One giving Him the glory. I will walk in purity, with thoughts constantly taken captive. My mind will be renewed as I choose so wisely what I behold. I will see others clearly and Jesus will show me what to do with that. My goal is to burn the brightest at the end when I meet Jesus face to face.

May I run this race victoriously.

Please pray for me in 2023 to allow His gaze with eyes like fire to burn up anything in me that isn’t Him and for me to steward well what I see.