‘Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight.’ (1 Timothy 1:18)
The Apostle Paul considered personal prophecies given to his disciple Timothy significant:
- Personal prophecies helped Timothy focus his life and ministry according to the call of God
- The Apostle Paul kept the prophetic words in mind when it came to his leadership of Timothy and instruction to him
5 Ways to Make the Most of your Personal Prophecy
A personal prophecy can be a means of great encouragement and motivation. [1]
If you have received a personal prophecy, here are some ideas to help you benefit from it:
1. Record your Prophetic Word
Write out your personal prophecy. (Hab 2:2) If possible, keep an audio copy of prophecies that you have received. Sometimes an impartation takes place through the verbal delivery of a word that cannot be communicated in writing.
If a word was not recorded in audio format, immediately write out as much of it as you can remember, so that you can weigh it up, pray about it and review it.
2. Weigh up your Prophecy
‘Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.’ (1 Thess 5:19-21)
The Bible exhorts us to weigh up prophetic words. (see also 1 Cor 14:29) [2]
Some filters you can use include:
- Is it in accordance with what the Bible says?
- Do you have an inner witness that the prophetic word is from God?
- Does it line up with the nature of God? In particular, with the nature of the Father as expressed through Jesus?
- Will responding to the prophecy bear good fruit—the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
- If the prophetic word concerns your destiny, does it line up with the way God has created and wired you?
Make sure that you include a process of accountability to Christian leadership in relation to your prophetic word. This is especially important if you are considering a change of direction in response to a word you have been given.
This also enables your leadership to nurture the gift and call of God upon your life, as Paul did with Timothy.
3. Pray about your Prophetic Word
Always take time to pray about any personal prophecy that you receive. Seek confirmation that the word is from God, and ask Him for further insights related to the message, its timing and any action you should take. Remember that fulfilment of your prophecy will be conditional upon you staying on track in your relationship with God.
Later on, you may also be led to pray about the fulfillment of your personal prophecy. [3]
4. Allow the Prophecy to Enlarge your Vision
A prophecy may be used of God to stretch our perspective concerning ourselves; who we are, Who He is, and what we are capable of doing with the enablement of His Holy Spirit.
A personal prophecy may speak into your identity and destiny. The Father is communicating His perspective about your life. And that may be beyond what you have perceived about yourself up to this time.
A personal prophecy is an invitation from the Father to see ourselves as He sees us.
The question is, will we accept that invitation?
5. Store your Prophetic Word for Future Reference
‘Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.” (Hab 2:2-3)
You may immediately recognise that your prophecy is timely and relevant.
However sometimes the exact meaning of a prophetic word is a mystery at the time we receive it.
This does not mean that it is not of value. In fact, it may be of tremendous significance for a later date.
Consider taking a long term view of any prophetic word you receive, even if you believe it does relate to a current situation.
Sometimes a personal prophecy is like a puzzle piece—you are not sure how or where it fits in the picture until more pieces have been put into place.
And then when you do see the fulfillment of the prophecy, you are blown away. You realise that God knew the whole picture of your life before you had even been born. [4]
‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them!’ (Ps 139:16-17)
Notes:
[1] For Biblical examples of personal prophecy and a biblical basis for bringing personal prophetic words, see my article:
Is Personal Prophecy Biblical?
[2] For more information about weighing up prophetic words, see
How Do I Know If A Personal Prophecy Or Dream Interpretation Is From God?
[3] See the following post:
Is It Time To Birth Your Prophetic Word In Prayer?
[4] If unfulfilment of a prophecy you have received in the past is causing you discouragement, see Dealing With Prophetic Disappointment
See the updated version of this post here: 7 Things You Can Do With Your Personal Prophecy
© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
Enliven Ministries
A part of the David McCracken Ministries family
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
wow! wow! and wow!
dear Helen
wow!
please if You wloud ever come to Nigeria please, please and please let me know! I would love to sit under Your teaching. I love Your articles, I have a test tomorow but could stop reading the articles and comments(I think I love Your comments more because the more pratical). I was a muslim but God gave me hope now I can boldly say He wants to use me for great things, would You please say a word to my journing in and with God?
I Love the work God has done in You and You(for yeilding to My father).
Hi Oloche,
Greetings from Australia
Thank you! I love your enthusiasm :-)
What a wonderful testimony of God’s work in your life. I pray with the words of the Apostle Paul that
‘… the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…’ (Eph 1:17-19a)
Dear Andrea, I read your article on disappointment concerning your prophetic word. Just needed confirmation also. I received a prophetic word 13 yrs ago about a mate and then one behind it the following year with a similar message. This is the word. Your mate has seen you before. He is a very humble man who loves you a lot. You always do something special for him. He will have a lot of heartache in life. The very friends who Encouraged him to do other things will tell him you are the one for him. Like the prodigal son. He will make his way back to you slowly, wounded. I see both of you crying really hard when he comes back. Things will be worked out of his life when he comes back. He won’t know if you will take him back or not. Don’t call, give distance, and pray. Second word, s year later. You will get married. You can’t take that emotional baggage into your marriage. Your mate has seen you three times and asks the Lord is that my wife. He can’t see you. Because you have paw prints on you. I submitted both words to tleadership at my church. They judged the word and agreed it ead from the Lord. I need emøtional healing. I have prayed. I did call and was hurt by the young man. I don’t pain. This young man has emotional ly hurt me. I can not pray for this word to be manifest ed anymore. He has never apologized or shown concern for me or my feelings. It has been 3 months. I Don t call anymore I want no contact the pain is great. I don’t believe this was a word from the Lord anymore. But a painful torment of false hope. I prayed so hard. I just can’t pray anymore. The thing is. I just wanted to hear from him for an apology. I still at least care for him. But his heart is cold towards me. I could never desire to be with someone like that. Trying to communicate with him he shuts you out.
I forgot another part if the first word received. That this individual would go with other women and the door would be closed. Making his way back to me slowly wounded. But things worked out of his life. Like the prodigal son. The man of God Saw us crying really hard when he came back. He stated he wouldn’t know if I would take him back or not. Don’t call, give distance, and pray. I am tired of holding on. I have no sign of any manifestation. Only the two words back to back. I am tired of praying and believing. I asked God to confirm this was from him. He did with Luke 11:45. Blessed is she that believed. For there shall be a performance if those things which were told her from the Lord.13 yrs. I don’t receive it. But everytime I release it. I may get hope to declare it again. Then get tired and disappointed and say it may have been a false word. I have asked God to confirm it. Nothing more?????????
Hi Delecia,
I can’t give specific advice or prophetic direction because every situation is unique. But I do stand by what I wrote in the article on prophetic disappointment.
If a prophecy does not bear good fruit (outcomes), but results in ungodly fruit, including long term frustration and disappointment, it may be time to release it and do whatever it takes to be free.
God’s plan for you as His child is that you live free and empowered and full of joy. (Rom 14:17b, Kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit).
Take whatever decision and action that leads you back to that place of freedom and liberty with Him. He loves you.
Helen,
Thank you. My heart had become frustrated, disappointed, and deeply hurt. However, I do believe what your article highlights, in terms of letting anything go that does not bear good fruit (outcomes). With me, it is letting go of resentment, hurt and unforgiveness towards the individual and allowing the peace and comfort to heal my heart from the pain of the encounter. After that, as noted in your article, if God decides to resurrect the word over my life then it will be his timing and his will. But for me, the healing in my heart, and forgiving the person is paramount for my deliverance. Let alone the manifestation of a prophetic word. So many of my friends have experienced similar experiences regarding a prophetic word about a mate. In this hour, it is very disturbing to have individuals speak into you r life and have internal disturbance. Everyone appears to have a word from the Lord. It creates emotional havoc and unrest in a person’s spirit. It can also create confusion,pain, and a disconnect from God if you are not strong in spirit. God’s word is the ultimate test of lining up a word. Others have to be filtered through the word of God. I am glad that God has allowed me to desire truth in my inward man to be free. I do believe that the words that I have received have been a true word. I filtered it through the tests outlined in your article. Submitting to leadership, the character of the individual, were they submitted to the church and leadership, integrity, their christian walk, and prayer and counsel. In fact, I sought several mature ministerial counsel. However, again, I desire peace, healing of my emotions, and complete deliverance in my spirit. Most of all God’s will and peace in my heart. I will release it all to God, everything including the word, person, all hurt and disappointment. If God desires to bring the manifestation of what was spoken into my life years ago to fruition. Then to God to be the Glory! It is well with my soul. Smile! Thank you for allowing God to use you in this much needed area, to provide Godly wisdom, and insight to the body of Christ. May God continue to increase the anointing of revelation, and truths to shine the light in areas of darkness, to set individuals free from deception and confusion. Blessings and The Grace of God be upon you.