As we embark on the beginning of Jewish New Year 5783, God highlighted the three months of overlap between its beginning and the beginning of 2023 in the Gregorian calendar. Strong’s Concordance’s reference for 5783 (the Hebrew year beginning now) is the Hebrew word “ur”, meaning “to be exposed or bare.”
It’s specifically used in regard to an act of preparation. This word shows up only in Habakkuk 3:9 in which he prays, “You (God) uncovered Your bow, You called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers.”
Beginning now, God is doing a deep work of “laying bare” and “exposing”—not as the enemy exposes (for evil purposes and accusation) but for purposes of truth and healing. On an individual level, this looks like deep inner healing or awakening of dormant callings. There will be freedom for those who are willing to sit with the Lord through the pain of the process and have Him walk them through redeeming their identities.
In my book “Uncommon Vessels,” I share how God spoke to me about the image of a bow and arrows, with the bow being our identity…the unchanging truth of who we were called to be…and arrows being the purposes the Lord wants to partner with us in. As God exposes the “bow” of identity, with it will come to a quiver of “arrows of callings.”
On a corporate level, this will look like exposing and awakening in the mountains of society. It’s important to remember during this process to focus more on celebration and promotion of truth, than glorifying accusation because God already has justice worked out.
As we transition into 2023, Strong’s correlates 2023 with the Greek “epichoregeo” meaning “I supply, provide lavishly or furnish.” The stripping down and laying bare is a preparation for this expression of abundance that we are moving into. On an individual level, this is operating fully in our callings as God lavishly supplies all we need to fulfill the visions He has given us.
This cannot happen without the deep healing that comes from the truths God is revealing these next few months both personally and corporately, so this is a call to spend extra time in prayer, receiving from the Lord both His truths about you as well as your role in His plans to bring truth to the nations.
I saw for the U.S. an image of DNA, and I asked the Lord what word this meant, and He said “regeneration.” I noticed inside the word regeneration is the word “gene.” In the natural, we are all designed with a unique gene pattern, and certain genes can be expressed (or not) based on a number of factors. We carry many genes that aren’t always expressed.
God is calling the U.S. back to its original identity. There are core things of God woven into its foundations that aren’t being fully expressed. The potential for this nation—and all nations—lies in its people’s ability to set the climate. We do so by pursuing our own individual alignment with the Lord in the secret place and pursuing our expression of His salvation in the marketplace (whether that’s your family, your job, your ministry, etc.). If we do this, we set the spiritual climate for the Lord to bring regeneration to the destiny of our nation.
Regeneration is defined by Webster as “spiritual renewal or revival”, “renewal or restoration of a body, bodily part or biological system (such as a forest) after injury or as a normal process,” and “utilization by special devices of heat or other products that would ordinarily be lost.” Hear the hope in that!
As we cooperate in setting the climate it is bringing revival, healing, restoration of the body and even renewal to certain systems like government or education that have been injured. It may be a couple of months of “heat” or “pressure” spiritually, but it is in order to save that which would have been lost. Don’t look to the process—look to the coming regeneration!
Prayer: Lord, we thank You that You see us and that You desire more wholeness and restoration for us. Thank you, Lord, for creating us so purposefully—help us to become reacquainted with who we are and where we are in Your process. Give us new arrows…new purposes to partner with You on. Bring regeneration to our nation and the church. Help me to do my part of bringing the personal regeneration You’re doing within me to the spheres You have placed me in externally. We pray for salvation, revival and regeneration for Your glory. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Sara Whitten is an author, speaker, equipper and founder of Arrows of Zion Ministry. She and her husband are pastors for the youth of Impact Christian Fellowship in Kerrville, Texas. Sara is a prophetic writer that is featured on Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, Charisma and more. She hosts “Hear God Every Day” on Charisma Podcast Network, a podcast with tools to help amplify the voice of God amidst the noise of everyday life.
