I don’t come from a tradition of the church that is super into giving prophecies (and that’s an understatement). However, I’ve spent time in churches that do and so I’ve always been open to it.

I’ve also certainly had a number of people speak words over my life. Sometimes I’ve never met them before, but they’ve said a word specifically and directly to me and known something that no one else does. We’ve been in one-on-one conversation and they’ve effectively said, ‘This is what you think’. And they’ve been right.

I don’t think we should be surprised by this. God’s Spirit is alive and active.

The only thing that we should be our guard about is false prophecies. These are ones that come from other, lying spirits. These spirits know things as well, but all they will do for us is lead us up the garden path, potentially into nothingness or danger.

Sometimes I find those within the church speak words over my life that are not actually the best for me. They mean well but they don’t know the full picture.

At those points in time I have to guard my heart and ensure I don’t become judgmental about the person who has given me a word that was wrong. Their misguidedness is not necessarily to be equated with evil. Perhaps they have areas for growth in their life of which they are unaware. But that’s between them and God. I can just go on my merry way.

It’s only when someone is deliberately giving you a false word that it is to be equated with evil.

And the best lies are the ones that are half true. They’re the ones that slip us up the most, because they have a veneer of trustworthiness.

How then do we know the truth? By prayer for wisdom and taking the long road. When we’re given a vision or a prophecy it’s usually because the coast up ahead is not going to be an easy one to navigate. Prophecies are given for a reason.

I once had a friend give me Isaiah 43:4 as a prophecy:

Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.

How’s that for confusing? I sure had no idea what it meant when they gave it to me. However, another thing about prophecy that I’ve discovered is that the layers within it become clearer over time. At the time of receiving a prophecy we might not fully understand it, but the Spirit will give us enough insight to respond correctly to it, in that very moment, as much as you need to do and know at the time.

If we are open to listening and open to obeying, our God loves to allow us to follow his instructions.

His sheep follow him because they know his voice.

That’s what Jesus said.

And in this day and age, we are blessed with access to his voice in such a variety of ways: reading the Bible, listening to podcasts, reading Christian books, talking with Christian friends, watching faith-based movies and tuning into Christian radio.

All of which I do.

God is still speaking. The question is whether we are open to hearing and obeying.

Yours still listening,

Alison