What are your predictions for this year for yourself and your family? The word 'prediction' is derived from two Latin words: 'pre', meaning: 'before,' and: 'diction,' the 'spoken word.' The original verb, 'predicere,' means 'to speak before.' In other words then, would you agree that when someone accurately predicts the future, it was spoken before it took place?

Well, God works that way. The Bible is full of prophesies, Words spoken by divine inspiration that have all, are right now, and/or will come to pass. God never spoke an idle word! He told Abram repeatedly that he would become the father of many nations and that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. (Gen. 12-17) Abram believed God. However, as time went on, he thought he'd "help" Him out, and Ishmael was the result! Finally, I can imagine, God really got his attention, saying something like: 'Abram, don't you get it? You are Abra-ha-m! That's what I've been telling you all this time!' "for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Note the past tense here) (Gen. 17: 5)

Although Isaac, the son of Promise, was not yet born, in the spiritual realm it was already accomplished. His spoken Word was in the earth and "Amen," it was so! No ifs, buts or maybes! But, Abram had to be convinced. After all, in the natural, God's Promise was impossible! His name was changed to "father of many nations" and Sarah was now called: "mother of many nations," (Gen. 18: 15-16)

I am not a Bible scholar nor have any knowledge of Hebrew. But, did you notice the 'AH' that the Lord added to both their names? I am convinced that God has a fantastic sense of humor and, reading it in English, I would like to think he said to Abraham and Sarah: 'Do you get what I've been trying to tell you for years? Now just keep speaking it until it becomes an AHA revelation down in your heart.' Guess what happened! Every time they called each other, or their many servants addressed them, they didn't merely turn their heads in response to hearing their name any more! They heard God's prophetic Word over their lives!

Although Abraham was already a man of faith, who loved God, he needed to learn that faith grows by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God! (Rom. 10: 17) First, God spoke the blessing, then he gave His children the name of His Will for their lives, and finally He had them speaking it over themselves until the word came true!

What are you saying about yourself? Are you speaking His blessings over your life? You, too, can get 'AHA!' moments, when your faith clicks into gear and you suddenly know that you know that what you asked the Lord for is about to happen! Why? How? Well, "The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart." And, "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. You first believe in your heart, and then you speak it out loud! (Rom. 10: 8-10)

Salvation is the greatest miracle. Yet, it takes but a matter of moments to be convicted by God's Word and to declare it. Why, then, does it seem so difficult for many to believe God's Word for all His other blessings? Do you know that God's thoughts about you are precious, (Ps. 140. 17) that He formed you in the womb, and calls you by name? Yes, like Abraham and Sarah, he also changed your name; he surnamed you! (Isa. 44: 2; 5) If you are His, then you are now called by His Name; created for His glory! (Isa. 43: 7) God calls you: "blessed," "precious," "child of the Most High!"

Go ahead; declare your Father's blessings over your life. When you speak Scriptures over yourself He, who crowns you with lovingkindness and mercy, will provide you with good things so that your youth will be renewed like the eagle's! (Ps. 103: 3; 5) "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." (Ps. 34: 10) Keep on seeing yourself as God sees you, until your faith soars! All the promises of God are Yea and Amen! And that means that it's so!(2 Cor. 1: 20)