Deeper into His Presence. It began decades ago, a divinely appointed time every New Year’s Eve spent before the Lord during the third watch. Like other intimate times dwelling in His presence, these bring forth watchwords via images/visions, scripture, worship, and deep intercession—but are often focused on the newly emerged year.

 

I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower and look out to see what He will say to me.” —Habakkuk 2:1
 

© desireofmysoul.faith (.com and .org) & SoulBreaths.com. All rights reserved.

 

AUDIO VERSION (10-minutes): Click link below.

 

 

READING TIME: 10 MINUTES

 

WATCHWORD GIVEN: At the stroke of midnight (heralding in January 1, 2026) through the third watch (midnight to 3 am).

 
 

This detailed account of the recent watchword from the Lord is shared solely to encourage you and to point the way to our King, His character, His call.

 

It’s birthed from a longstanding, appointed midnight rendezvous with the Lord every New Year’s Eve. This year’s unfolded into four interconnected components:

 

1. the ROCK

2. an indestructible, immutable covenantal promise

3. specific scriptures etched in rocky clefts

4. a word of counsel and caution for 2026

 

This post covers the parts I feel led to share from my journaled notes.

 

It starts with the last one—the word of counsel—to set the guardrails because the other three components are needed to walk and stay within those guardrails.

 

❖❖❖❖

 
 

HIS WORD of COUNSEL

 

Seek His face now.

Because in 2026, you will need His Rest.

 

When I heard that from Him, I realized the converse was also true: If we don’t stay in His Presence and seek His face regularly, intentionally, meaningfully, we’ll spend 2026 thrashing in panic-driven waters and relying on self-striving—all of it diametrically opposed to being in His rest.
 

Spiritually speaking, the soul can hear, taste, see, smell, feel. Resting in Him starts by purposefully, hungrily, intensely going deeper into His Presence, your soul riveted to Him, submerged in Him, pursuing Him so you can more genuinely and relationally know, hear, serve, and honor Him.

 

Dwelling (residing and abiding) in His rest takes leaving the shallow waters. Moving forward in Him with abandon. Actively trusting His character, kingship, and authority in every crevice of your being. Removing self from the helm and surrendering to His command, His voice, His way, (and, yes) His timing.

 

A lifetime-learning of dying to self.

 

In The Pursuit of God, theologian A. W. Tozer says we must have an “acute desire” to pursue God because “He waits to be wanted.”

 

Indeed, He must.

 

Psalm 29 resounds with that two-sided desire, declaring that the voice of the LORD is powerful, majestic, dividing flames of fire, shaking the wilderness . . . and reminds us that the LORD sat as King at the time of the flood and still sits as King, now and forever . . . [therefore] . . . Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name.

 

Seeking His face, His Presence/Rest, with abandon establishes secured spiritual guardrails to hem you in, steady your soul, balance your walk, align your thinking with His heart (per Romans 12:2), and prioritizing Him over this world’s inverted sense of primacy and amid its disruptive, raging waters.
 

A violent storm developed on the sea,

and the boat was being swamped by the waves;

but Jesus was asleep.

His disciples woke Him, shouting,

“Save us, Lord; we’re sinking!”

He said, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”

Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

The men marveled and asked,

“What kind of a man is this,

that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

—Matthew 8:24-27

 
 

❖❖❖❖

 
 

 
 

THE ROCK

&

THE INDESTRUCTIBLE, IMMUTABLE PROMISE

 

While worshiping during the third watch, I was permitted to move deeper into His Presence, His quiet. I sensed myself climbing up a rope ladder, vivid spiritually in sight and touch.
 

In time, the rope rungs became glittered—as did my fisted hands each time they gripped the higher rungs. I was entering another level of intimacy, a secreted, quieted soul-to-soul place with and in Him, where His voice sounds in the attentive stillness.

 

A familiar, comforting object appeared: the formidable bell-arched gate prominently bearing His Holy Name. A name synonymous with His character and His unequivocal, rightful authority and power over all.

 

I AM

 
 

Once inside the gate, I saw the Rock further ahead, a steep mountain—rugged, commanding, its towering presence tugged at my soul.

 

I made my way toward the Rock by walking through rows of soft, tall wheat and trumpet-shaped daffodils. The wheat, a reminder of God’s spiritual harvest and our reliance on Him and our Messiah, the true Bread of Life .

 

Jesus said, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
 

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”

 

Jesus said, “I AM the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

—John 6:27, 32-33, 35

 

The horned daffodils, a reminder of God’s shofar-resounding VOICE at Sinai (Exodus 19) and the biblical shofar’s red alerts calling us to action.

 

Once I began climbing the rugged Rock, water gently streamed down from on high as my hands found secured clefts, anchor points, to steady and balance my soul-body.

 

Please make a note of those words . . . secured cleft, anchor points, steady and balance.

 

Climbing higher, I saw this before me: the year (2026) and right below it, a scripture reference—Isaiah 62:1—underscoring His faithful covenantal promise.
 

Seeing that immediately prompted me to stop climbing and intercede for Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and Israel’s outer most parts regarding the new year.

 

2026

ISAIAH 62:1

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

and for JERUSALEM’S SAKE I will not keep quiet,

until her RIGHTEOUSNESS goes forth like brilliance,

and her SALVATION burns like a torch.

 

Beloved, please wear that promise close to your spiritual chest this year. Because no matter what we see or hear in 2026 and no matter how things are shaken, God’s Word stands. For Israel . . . and His scriptural promises for you.

 

His Word is His Character and

His Character is manifested in His Promises.

 

Stalwart, enduring, unwavering, mighty, victorious.

 
 

❖❖❖❖

 

HIS CLEFT-ETCHED WORDS

THEIR LINK & MEANING IN 2026

 

Continuing the climb, my eyes caught sight of etchings in the clefts where my left and right hands were reaching. The etchings were scripture references: Psalm 21 and Isaiah 53.

 

Earlier rabbinic and later Christian scholars regard Psalm 21 and Isaiah 53 as messianic. Wording in the psalm indicates a kingship far beyond the natural, far beyond King David’s earthly reign. It reveals a royal, everlasting kingship that only our Messiah can hold.

 

Psalm 21 is a secure cleft, an anchor point of David’s thanksgiving for God’s salvation and exaltation of our Messiah King, who comes from the line of David and rises out of an eternity-changing anchor-point: the Messiah’s suffering, as described in Isaiah 53.

 

Beloved one, reflect on these scriptures. They’re two sides of the same messianic coin, so to speak—each side a reminder, a promise, a hope, an eternal gift, an indelible focal point for your 2026 walk with God to keep you steady within His guardrails.

 

PSALM 21

(appearing as my left hand was placed in a secured cleft)

 

Cling to these Anchor Points:

Jesus/Yeshua, Exalted (vs 3-6, 13)

Victorious (vs 8-13)

Eternally Reigning Savior-King, Judge of the whole Earth (vs 4, 8-13)

His Mighty Resurrection over death (vs 4, 6)

 

ISAIAH 53

(appearing as my right hand was placed in a secured cleft)

 

Cling to these Anchor Points:

Yeshua, the Sacrificial Lamb of God (vs 3, 7-8)

Crucifixion-Atonement (vs 4-6)

Redemptive Work, freed us from the Slave Market of Sin (vs 5-6, 11)

Promised Salvation (vs 4, 10-12)

 

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A FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

 

In the natural around us, the battles will rage on.

 

But in God’s realm—in His Kingdom that is assuredly coming—the battle has been handled. Won.

 

Our King reigns and will reign forever and ever.

 

Beloved, rest in that, confidently. Breathe it all in.

 

Our LORD is not a man that He should lie . . . and He cannot and will not change His character. (Malachi 3:6, Psalm 102: 27, Hebrews 13:8)

 

So let your soul rejoice in His trustworthy rest . . . raise your timbrels and glorify His Name, the Great I AM!

 

Just as Jewish and Gentile believers shouted praise at His Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday, so we again will shout at His Second Coming when He takes His rightful throne!

 

Hosanna! Our King is victorious!

Hosanna! Our King is victorious!

Hosanna to the Son of David!

 

Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!

 

BLESSED BE HIS GLORIOUS NAME:

FAITHFUL and TRUE (Revelation 19:11)

 
 
 

PHOTO CREDITS

Lighthouse by Michael Krahn on Unsplash

Rock climber’s hands by TG23 on iStock

 

MUSIC CREDITS

Inward Voice: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/inward-voice
License code: WMZ9JURP8LGBVNFB

 

Hosanna! Our King is victorious! is a few-seconds excerpt from The Chosen’s season 4 that is included under Fair Use to further educate and edify, because this Flashes of Lightning post teaches and encourages reader-listeners of His 2026 watchwords and His faithfulness and heart-call for us to seek His face and actively trust Him.

 

The biblical link between the chant of ancient Israel for King David and the Triumphal entry of Yeshua is extended in this post to us here and now, reminding reader-listeners that His Millennial Kingdom and eternal reign is coming and that He is still on the throne faithful, true, victorious, majestic, our blessed hope, and, thus, the brief musical clip’s use is transformed and expanded further by the uniqueness of the 2026 In The Cleft of the Rock watchwords, images, visions, and scriptures the Lord gave me on New Year’s Eve (e.g. seek His face and stay in His Presence to enter/dwell/reside in His rest, Exodus 19, Isaiah 62, Israel as His focus/His faithfulness to her and, with that, to believers, Psalm 21, Isaiah 53, Psalm 29, Revelation 19:11, Malachi 3:6, Psalm 102:27, Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 8, John 6, wheat/Bread of Life, daffodils/shofar/His shofar-resounding voice at Sinai, shofar call to action and thus our remaining steeled in/by His promises).

 

All of His 2026 watchword message is given to share with others as led, to encourage my blog prayer partners and others as well as those He may lead to this site because His Word is His Character and His Character is manifested in His Promises.

A group of believers in Jesus our Messiah unite in prayer before the throne to stand in the gap for others.

 

© Desireofmysoul.faith (.com and .org) & SoulBreaths.com. All rights reserved.

 

Please join us before our King . . .

Email your prayer requests or questions: prayer@desireofmysoul.faith

 

AUDIO FORMAT CONTINUES:

a targeted shortlist sent as led, often once or twice a month.

 
 

Seasons. Our spiritual and physical lives morph through each season released by the hand of God. Each one a faith-walk in its own right. A time of blossoming, a time of shedding, a time of quiet and solitude, a time of gathering, a time of learning, a time of discipline and growing.

 

Whatever season you’re in—like those on our prayer list, many ill, one in hospice nearing Heaven, others desperate for deliverance or a breakthrough—may you run to Him and find comfort, wisdom, understanding, and joy in His Presence because you are His beloved.

 

May the Name of God be blessed for ever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes times and seasons . . . It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.—Daniel 2:20, 21a, 22

 

Thank you, Adonai, for all that you are, for all you have done for us. Glory to your Name, your Holiness, your Great Chesed (lovingkindness), your everlasting love given through our Messiah, Jesus. We will spend all eternity thanking you, worshiping you, serving you for you alone are worthy, you alone are LORD.

 
 

FIVE AUDIO PRAYER ALERTS with Scriptures

Thank you for whatever time you can give.

 

Click on the FIRST audio link below to pray with us for Ev, Neil, Amanda.

(Psalm 95:4-7 and Isaiah 41:10)

 

 

Click on the SECOND audio link below to pray with us for Bernie, Kim, Freda.

(Psalm 23, Psalm 29, and Isaiah 26:3)

 

 

Click on the THIRD audio link below to pray with us for Michael, Kevin/Mary.

(Ephesians 6:10-17 and 2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

 
 

Click on the FOURTH audio link below to pray with us for Josh, L. & J.

(Deuteronomy 31:8 and 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Psalm 32:8)

 

 

Click on the FIFTH audio link below to pray with us for Kellie Farag, Pastor JD’s wife who is nearing her time to enter Heaven.

(Psalm 116:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

 

 
 

HEY, GOT A FEW MORE MINUTES TO PRAY?

UPDATED LIST for SALVATION, DELIVERANCE & PRODIGALS

 
 

Acts 26:17b. This Acts verse is our continual prayer for deliverance: God’s commission to Paul . . . “Open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

 

We pray that because of Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.”

 

#1. In this tenuous hour on the prophetic time clock, we pray for B’nai Israel in the Land and throughout the world. Especially for those Jews caught up in New Age/Buddhism and those not knowing or unwilling to know the truth of Yeshua. Special mentions for salvation and deliverance:

√ with mercies and healing on all the returned hostages and their families, Bibi Netanyahu–God’s hand on his heart–and Bibi’s family and all Israeli leadership, every facet of the courageous Israeli military forces/IDF, Israeli Intelligence forces/Shin Bet/Mossad/Aman, and for unity in the nation—and for their enemies to turn to the Lord and be saved

√ Yad L’Achim, a Haredi Jewish organization focusing on countering evangelical “missionary” work in Israel

 

Jewish friends and/or rabbis:

√ the extended Katz family, Marc, Bill, Rabbi Mendy Deitsch/family, Neil S., Bobbi/Neil, Edie/Hal, Etta, Julie, Robert, Ellen B., Barbara/family, Jackie/family, Nancy E., Doug B., Dale G., Judith L., Ruth M., Ira P. and wife, Carolyn S., and the family of Ellen R.

√ The Chosen’s Jewish actors Shahar Isaac, Noah James, Elijah Alexander.

√ Rabbi Richman, the Temple Institute, Aish.com, Pardes Institute rabbis/teachers, Rabbi Mintz/family & her longtime Torah study group, Rabbi Fohrman, Rabbi Wyne, Rabbi Goodman, Rabbi Herlig/Chabad, Rabbi Hecht and family, Rabbi Goodman, Rabbi Cohen, Rabbi Goldbart, Tovia Singer

 

#2. Deliverance from Persecution

√ The demonic realm is at work, stirring hatred, swaying hearts and souls. Even infiltrating churches disguising themselves—wolves in sheep’s clothing—to perform spiritual attacks up close and personal against believers, thwarting their faith, health, marriages, families, jobs, more. May we STAND shoulder-to-shoulder in unity with the Word, holding fast to God’s promises and His holy, faithful character. Psalm 121:7-8—The LORD shall preserve you from all evil. He shall preserve your soul. In Yeshua’s Mighty, Mighty, Redeeming Name.

√ Believers throughout the world under heavy, unspeakable persecution for their faith–in Nigeria, Vietnam, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Middle East, Philippines, China, North Korea, Central & Southeast Asia, India, Nepal, Algeria, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Cameroon, Venezuela, and on it goes. Some are beaten, ostracized, raped (men, women, children), imprisoned, unable to make a living or fellowship with other believers, enduring hostility, violence, surveillance, and driven from their homes and villages.

 

#3. US Government Officials & Families: Salvation.

May our governmental leaders and citizens humble themselves before our LORD GOD. May their power-lust, bitterness, envy, jealousy, anger be replaced with unity and the love of God and righteous decisions for the good of the nation and its people—and may they support and bless Israel.

√ For God’s hand and leading on President Donald Trump and his family, drawing them closer to His Presence and ways. And for VP J.D. Vance and wife Usha Vance (and her salvation/she’s Hindu), and for all unsaved members of the new administration and the House/Senate and their families that they’ll seek God and His Word in their political decisions and in their daily lives, putting Him first.

 

#4. Prodigals

√ all those we know/love who once walked with our Messiah but have gone rogue, become compromised, blinded by the enemy’s sway

√ special mentions: Nina, Matt, Anthony (homeless), Kevin, Rachel, Grant & Shannan, Chippendale-ish performer who is a believer/works at Fremont Experience, Emily S., Austin, Lisa, Heather, and all those in the film/music/entertainment industry who knew the LORD but compromised and fell under the enemy’s beguiling ways.

 

#5. Salvation for the spiritually lost and/or demonically troubled or bound:

√ Ann Marie

√ Robert

√ Claire

√ Michael

√ Mary’s cousin in Vietnam who is possibly a Buddhist (other family members in the area are Muslim)

√ Landon, Lisa, Alexander, Lindsay, Mary, Leah, Daniel, Oren

√ E. Davis.

√ Cin H.

√ Bryan H. & family, Jesse S. & family, Ted W. & family

√ Emily D., K. & Z., Nicky W.

√Christina, Dr. Jacks, Greg & his wife

√ the unsaved family members of the late Ed Honore, a believer who now is with our King

√ Luigi

√ Erica

√ Bruce

√ The Chosen’s unbeliever actors/crew, with a praying heart-focus for Paras Patel (Matthew) and Erick Avery (Nicodemus)

√ Unsaved dancers, buskers, performers, and Chippendale dancers working the Fremont Street Experience

√ Anthony & Lilly (following New Age)

√ Donny D.

√ Benjamin, Cliff, J., Gary

√ Bob K, Paul P., Michael, Tim C.

√ Erica & Richard, Susan R., Erica M.

√ Cynthia and her family

√ James J., Alexandria, Cole, Joe D., Mercedes, Bob, Michael, Alexander

√ all our family/friends/loved ones who are still unwilling to disengage from prior demonic agreements, humble themselves, surrender their souls and lives/lifestyles to our LORD JESUS

 

#6. Deliverance and salvation for those under gender confusion/gender bending and homosexuality:

√ Bob & Don (male partners)

√ J. & his male partner

√ Joey (dresses as a woman), “Joan” (biological male), and “Hannah” (biological male)

√ Emily, Barb, Annie, Abbie—all need freedom from lesbian hold

 
 
 

PHOTO CREDIT: Wrecking ball photo only was purchased from iStock.com (my text was inserted onto the photo afterward).

A divine spark. A flash image. A scripture suspended before me. This series shares soul-to-soul watchwords that I believe the Lord has impressed on me for this season, hour, moment that we’re in.
 

This watchword shook my soul—and my physical surroundings.

 

“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what He will say to me.” —Habakkuk 2:1

 

© desireofmysoul.faith & SoulBreaths.com. All rights reserved.

 

READING TIME: 2 MINUTES.

 

WATCHWORD GIVEN: JULY 3, 2019 at 1:50 am PST

 
 

God’s powerful, immeasurable vastness astonishes me. Enthralls me. Frightens me. Humbles me. I am finite . . . from dust. He is the Great I AM.

 

Shaking. That was the watchword the LORD had me pray in those wee hours in early July 2019. The focus then and going forward—even into the end of 2020—has been Psalm 29.

 

The Lord had led me to pray, reflect, breathe in, and exhale Psalm 29—peering into the words, the meanings behind the words, and burrowing in-between the letters—over and over and over and over and over again. And I haven’t stopped.

 

Peering into these scriptures about His weightiness and holiness continues to silence me, moving me to repentance on new and unexpected levels.

 

Psalm 29 is for this time. An hour like none other before it in history, when the birth pains of what is coming alert us, awaken us from our slumber. Seven times the psalm speaks of the voice of the Lord, giving us a window into His depth and power.

 

Orthodox rabbis sense the shift toward end-time events. Messianic Jews/Christians recognize it from biblical prophecies. Whether God moves soon or, in His mercy, waits another decade or two or three, one thing is clear:

 

We have turned a corner,
and there is no going back to the way things were.
We are on His divine trajectory.

 

This is a soul-call . . . to deeper reverence for Him, acknowledging His might, the awe that is Him. The unknowingly knowable One. The hidden-yet-revealed One. The unseen-yet-seen-with-the-eyes-of-the-soul One.

 

So no matter what lies ahead for this world,
you’ll know where to fix your eyes.
You’ll know that He is on the throne—the one and only Mighty God.
He sits above the flood . . .
meaning kings and kingdoms come and go, but God reigns.
He alone is steadfast, the stability of our times.
He won’t be surprised or shaken by the turning of things.
Yet, promising to be your shielded cleft in the storm,
your strength, your blessing,
your peace and completeness . . . your shalom.

 

He alone deserves PRAISE and WORSHIP.

He alone is HOLY.

He alone is GOD.

He shares His GLORY with no one.

 

All of Psalm 29 appears at the end of this short post (next). But these particular images mentioned in the psalm spoke to me, stirred me, quieted me:

 

ADONAI’s voice over the waters . . . the GOD OF GLORY thunders . . . ADONAI over the rushing waters.

[His might hovering over His creation.]

 

His voice in power, in splendor, cracks the cedar, flashes fiery flames.

[The magnitude of His voice alone stills my soul. It was His voice that thundered over Israel’s enemies—panicking the Philistines (1 Samuel7:10) and breaking down the Assyrians (Isaiah 30:31).]

 

His voice rocks, shakes the wilderness, convulses the Kadesh desert.

[The sheer force of His presence changes everything. The desert quakes—the Hebrew likens it to pain (חיל), a woman in travail, as in Jeremiah 6:24. ]

 

During intercession, my prayers sought the LORD to shake the wilderness—shake us out of the wilderness, the wanderings, the soul’s wilderness wanderings.

 

Shaking us . . . with testings for faithfulness.

 

Just a few days later—during Friday night shabbat dinner at a rabbi’s house—that shaking took on physical dimensions. The glass chandelier swayed and shimmied, the artwork shook, the glass dining room table moved from side to side, as did our chairs. Kind of like a Disney ride.

 

An earthquake tremor, not that typical for Las Vegas. At least in my longtime living here. But I sensed that it was underscoring the Psalm 29 prayer—which continues to stand in the forefront throughout 2020’s tumultuous times.

 

PSALM 29: THE HOPE

 

When you read-pray the psalm (aloud even!), note the call to acknowledge GOD, assigning Him the rightful place in your soul/life, ascribing to Him power and glory—and to praise His power, might. And to pray, asking ADONAI for strength and shalom (a completeness, peace.)

 

A psalm of David:
Give Adonai his due, you who are godly;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
give Adonai the glory due his name;
worship Adonai in holy splendor.
The voice of Adonai is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
Adonai over rushing waters,
the voice of Adonai in power,
the voice of Adonai in splendor.
The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars;
Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,
Siryon like a young wild ox.
The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames;
the voice of Adonai rocks, shakes the wilderness,
Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert.
The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth
and strips the forests bare—
while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”
Adonai sits enthroned above the flood!
Adonai sits enthroned as king forever!
May Adonai give strength to his people!
May Adonai bless his people with shalom!