When the new year starts, is there one word that usually is on your heart that becomes your word for the year? For some, a word of the year has come. For others, the word is still stirring. A word will immediately spark my heart for some new years. Other years, I find myself pondering. This has been one of those pondering-for-the-perfect-word starts for me. Do you feel joy when you finally find the right word?

This was me the other day. The word came, and I know I want the word to stay with me awhile. So, I’ve invited the word “behold” into my year.

Perhaps I’m a little late in talking about this since it’s taken me a little longer to find the right word for me, but of course, His timing is perfect. While friends mentioned words of the year, I still seemed to be searching for mine. As I flipped through my journal the other day, “behold” seemed to catch my eye a couple of times. It has since become the word I want to hold onto. It brings life to me, and I hope it does for you, too.

Behold.

Behold means “to look.” or “to see.”

And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.

Genesis 1:31

I love how God says behold right in the very beginning.

Whenever I’ve heard “behold” in my spirit or the Word, I sense the power of the Father God inviting me to look and see. See all that is good ahead, even in the here and now.

While we can’t escape the reality that there’s a lot of bad on this fallen earth, there is so much good that God has created. And that is what I want to behold.

And behold, “I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 28:15

Just as God encouraged Jacob, I know He is with us, too, and God will not leave us.

I have found myself in a new rhythm of life, all because of the goodness of the Father. As I have transitioned into new seasons, He has never once left me. I want to behold the good. The more we seek Him, the more we find Him. The more we look to Him, the more we become transformed in His love.

There’s so much goodness He wants us to notice. As we look, may we see beyond circumstances. Eyes with trust will allow us to see the depths of God and enter His perfect will.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

Psalm 34:5

With Jesus, there’s no room for shame. He threw that out long ago as soon as we surrendered it to Him. The more I look to Him, the more I see how He lavishes my life with grace and love. The more I consider His thoughts over my own, the more my thinking is transformed. As I look to the One who created the heavens and earth, I know I belong to Him, and I see myself in light of how He designed me to see myself.

What if we take a step back now and then, pause, and behold who God is in our very moment?

He is with you in the waves if you’re in a battle. God is comforting you if you’re mourning. God will counsel you if you need to know the next step.

Is there something new stirring with you? Perhaps it’s new for you to sit and be still rather than jumping up to help everyone else. Maybe it’s the right word you’ve been looking for.

Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?

Isaiah 43:19

When God does something new, I want to behold it. I want to notice. The power unfolds when we become aware of His goodness, presence, and invitation to be still – we find ourselves in the right place with the right word.

I can’t wait to see all God has in store as I ponder more on “behold.” What has been the right word for you this year?