1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
What are you doing with the prophecies spoken over you?
Have you ever had someone prophesy greatness over you? Did you believe it? If you believed it, you probably stopped and thought about it. If you didn’t believe it, you probably disregarded it or put it “on the shelf”. Either way, you probably prayed about it. Maybe you even considered the days or the times when you talked to God about the very thing that was spoken to you. There are some things you can do to remember what God spoke.
- Make sure the word is from God.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. (Amplified Bible AMP)
- If you determine it is not of God, throw it out.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. (The Message MSG)
- When you confirm the word is from God, receive it.
Matthew 10:41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is God’s messenger will share a prophet’s reward. And whoever welcomes a righteous person because he follows me will also share in his reward. (The Passion Translation TPT)
- Pay attention to the prophetic call to action.
2 Peter 1:19-21 So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You’re doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts. (God’s Word Translation GWT)
- Apply your faith to the prophecy.
Matthew 18:18 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven. (Amplified Bible AMP)
Prophecy comes to confirm what God has already said. Fight for what God has spoken, as Paul told Timothy, and hold your head a little higher. Use the word to take a few more blows, to re-energize you and keep you fighting. “Hold on and see what the end is gonna be,” like the old folks used to say.
Please agree with me as I pray:
Father, I thank You for every word You have spoken over my life. I repent for all the times when I wasn’t listening and I thank You for loving me enough to send someone to confirm the word You had already given me. Even those times when the things spoken seemed impossible to me, You kept confirming Your will. I should have come to You. I repent for thinking You didn’t know the right time or the season for me to hear it; I was just being stubborn. Thank You for discernment. I know when You are speaking and when You are not. Thank You for the men and women of faith who will share what they believe You were saying. Their obedience leads me into Your presence. The prophetic word strengthens me, encourages me, gives me ammunition, and helps me stand as I engage the enemy. I give You glory for Your word, for Your truth, and for Your power to bring it to pass…
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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.