How would you go about to handle a prophetic word that you have received? Below is some guidelines and some proposed best practices.
- Judge the word. – Read Also: Why it is important to judge a prophetic word.
- Preserve
Record it for the future, ourselves and others as a testimony, witness and reference.Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:14)And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. (Isa 30:8) - Pray
After Nathan prophesied to David concerning God’s purpose and plans for his house, David prays exactly what Nathan just prophesied to God!”Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. “So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. “For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. “Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” (2Sa 7:25-29)Daniel, once he understood the word of the Lord concerning the return of the captives prayed:in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Dan 9:2-3) - Counsel
Work through the prophetic word with those to whom you are accountable. They will help you to understand what you have received and what the application should be. Also if there is anything that you do not understand they might be able to help you understand. - Prepare and Apply
Before a prophetic word comes into fulfillment preparation is needed to form the foundation of the expression of the word.Examples: Preparation of Israel and the Roman Empire (ultimately the world) for Jesus’ first coming; Noah and the building of the ark (Genesis 6); Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judges 6, 7).
You can use this checklist to process any word you have received. Spending time with a prophetic word can give you more insight into what God is actually saying to you.
Prophetic Resource
Get the Basic Prophetic Training Manual.
