Word for the Year by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

Every year I ask the LORD for a word for the year. In a sense, it’s the theme for the year, provided by Him. I take the word seriously. I do not want to get it wrong and ask God for multiple confirmations for the word to stick. It’s a word I keep in mind all year as I go about life.

Last year my word was humble. I asked myself repeatedly throughout 2022: Was that a humble way to act? Was that a humble thing to say? Was that a humble thought I had? It was a powerful exercise and I realized I had some work to do on pride.

This year, through multiple confirmations, my word is Increase. I really wanted to be sure about this one, because it is so positive. However, through reading God’s Word, through podcasts I listened to and through prophetic words I received, the word increase came up over and over.

What does this word mean? I believe God is about to increase our ministry outreach. I have already watched him increase our Pearls of Promise team, now up to seven people—a perfect number. I am standing in awe as He expands what we do, adding a mentorship program and a Jewish outreach through media. I also believe He is going to increase our media audience. That is to come.

I don’t believe I am the only one receiving this word. I feel strongly that God is increasing many ministry platforms as He makes a final push for souls before His Son returns.

We have to be good stewards of any increase we receive. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Basically, when we receive increase, more has to be poured out. More truth. More encouragement. More love. When Paul was speaking to the Thessalonians he prayed, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you” (1 Thessalonians 3:12, NIV). And that is my prayer for you.

With increase, I believe there is also increased opposition. The enemy of our souls does not want to see God’s ambassadors being used in a greater way, so as we increase output, we need to increase input through more study, prayer time and worship. We have to encourage each other. I am starting a local ministry leaders coffee group for just that purpose. We have to be fully protected and equipped as we move into a place of increased anointing.

What about you? Are you one of the ones who is seeing increase? Increase also means the Lord’s presence within you is increasing. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30, KJV). What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today?