Word for 2024: The Oil
by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.
An Outpouring of Oil Awaits
I believe 2024 is a year of increasing oil. Oil represents intimacy with Jesus and also the Holy Spirit. Since mid 2021, I have been meditating on the story in 2 Kings 4. This story of the indebted widow who experiences a miracle of the multiplication of oil for her region because she stewarded the little oil will prove key for what God is wanting to pour out in 2024.
We must steward the oil of intimacy in our lives. Many times this is costly and means saying no to other things or even offending others as the five wise virgins had to do in Matthew 25.
We must become oily ones, saturated in His presence, willing to pay the price. There is a shaking, crushing, pressing, and refining that happens to produce oil. Oil is needed to sustain the flame burning within us. The only way to get the oil is by spending time in God’s presence. There are no short cuts or impartation to get the oil. It’s price is our highest commodity: Time.
Fires of Consecration
There is also an increased invitation to throw off everything that hinders (Hebrews 12:1-2) and run after Jesus in abandonment, to step into the fires of total consecration once again (John 15). We must get to the point where we are willing to pay any price to see His glory come.
Relational Realignment
2024 will be also be a time of relational realignment. There will be a shuffling, shifting, and transitioning of people into new key friendships, partnerships, church affiliations, and ministry associations.
Many will suddenly be uprooted from one community only to be planted in a different one. This may happened suddenly. This is not bad or because you’ve done something wrong, it is God bringing realignment for a new season. Do not be surprised by this shift but process the transition with the Lord, fully surrender and entrust your previous commitments to Him, grieve the loss of the changing relational dynamics, thank Him for all He has done there, reflect on what you’ve learned and will take with you, let go of what needs to stay behind, and step in to be present for your new assignment and the new relationships God wants to bring into your life in 2024.
The Lord is at work in the transition. Even though it may be uncomfortable to be in the letting go phase before the new has come, it is temporary. In the hallway before being realigned, lean into the Lord and give yourself grace in the process. In this time of stripping away what you once held dear, the Lord is causing you to cling to Him in an even greater way. You will get to the other side soon enough, but be present in the waiting to receive the hidden treasures in the dark places that the Lord wants to reveal (Isaiah 45:1-3).
Blessing you as you step into all that He has for you in the new year. May you be baptized in fire so that He burns away anything that does not belong in this new season and refines and purifies the gold that is to remain, all for His glory. Trust in Him even when you don’t understand. He loves to draw near to those in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14). You are not alone. He’s got you. Keep your eyes on Him. Beautiful things await.
