In fact most problems or controversy associated with prophetic ministry are actually not because of weak revelation, but because of wrong interpretation. The easiest mistake to make is that we stick our own interpretation on God-given revelation. It’s about accurately interpreting the revelation so we then know how to respond to it.ĭiscernment is a vital part of the prophetic process, one that we can’t rush and unfortunately it’s usually the part of the process where most errors are made. This is all about asking God what the revelation means and getting clarity on exactly what God is saying to us through it. “What on earth was God saying to me through that dream of a white horse last night?” “What does this lovely picture of a waterfall actually mean?” The part where we properly unpack it and interpret it. In this blog I’m focusing on the middle part, the discerning part, where we work out the essence of what God is actually saying to us – the full meaning behind the vision, dream, word. It’s really helpful to separate out these three parts and to be conscious of where perhaps we are stronger or weaker, where we need to be more intentional. The three parts to the process are: first of all tuning in to God’s revelation, next discerning the interpretation, and then actively responding to what God is saying.

To have a prophetic lifestyle – and to be a disciple of Jesus – involves engaging with the whole of this process. As I said in the first of these blogs, prophecy is not a one-time event, but rather a long-term process, as we align our lives and properly walk out the word from God. I’m doing a series of blogs over the summer on the prophetic process, the process that starts with revelation from the heart of God, and finishes, hopefully, with fulfilment and transformation. “OK, so what exactly do you mean by that?”

Approaching the heart of prophecy