I don’t think there is one of us who doesn’t desire to hear God’s voice speak to you.
Can you imagine how your life will change if you are convinced that the living God that you and I have come to know and trust in Jesus Christ is speaking to you right now! It will change your life.
What if what I am writing to you is God speaking to you right now?
Think about it for a moment.
How will it change your reading of these writings?
Consider the following comments as my notes on how to take seriously what you are convinced is truly a Word of the Living God to you.
Remember the purpose of prophecy
Remember the purpose of why the Lord speaks prophetically into our lives. 1 Cor. 14:1-3
“Pursue love, and desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in tongues does not speak to men but to God. No one understands him; he speaks mysteries through the Spirit. But he who prophesies does speak to men to edification, encouragement and comfort. “
The Lord is busy through this Word (= prophetic word) ...
• Building you up – helping you to see the bigger picture, giving you a strategy
• Encouraging you – it will give you new “oomph” for the road ahead
• And comforting you – and in the process wiping away your tears, anointing and healing all the wounds you have suffered on your way here, and helping you to forgive and regain your peace.
That is why it is so important to take such a prophetic word/Word of the Lord with great seriousness and not just read or listen to it as you usually do (in your hurry), only half-read things or listen to them with half an ear.
This is what 1 Thess. 5:19 to 24 says about this.
“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophecies, but test all things; hold fast to what is good; avoid every form of evil. And may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may you be preserved completely in spirit, soul, and body, blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful and will do it.”
Why does Jesus say to you: “Peace, SHALOM, right NOW?”
Which aspect or side of this SHALOM word is specifically applicable to you and what is going on in your life?
Of course, all sides of PEACE or SHALOM are important to you and part of God’s Word and grace to you. Yet there are specific aspects and elements of meaning of the Biblical concept, SHALOM, that are meant FOR NOW to build you up, encourage you, and comfort you!
Spend some time at the Lord’s feet to figure it out for yourself.
What do you trust the Lord for NOW in your life?
What will you answer Jesus today if He comes before you and asks: What can I do for you in your life today? What do you trust Me for today?
Which specific meaning or side of the Biblical concept SHALOM expresses your answer to this question?
Take time to believe this word
Because the Lord’s word in this very time, “Peace/SHALOM to you!”, is ... is also a promise from the God who cannot lie, to you RIGHT NOW!
See in your mind's eye and begin to experience in your heart and in your body what it will feel and look like when this side of SHALOM begins to happen in your life and around you!
This is what FAITH means! That you already experience in faith RIGHT NOW and see how these sides of SHALOM begin to happen in and around you!
Make time every day from now on to be quiet, to calm down, and to experience in faith how the Lord's word of promise and prophetic word to you begins to happen!