I don’t know about you, but praying, that is speaking with God for me is challenging. I want to just sit and talk with God but so often find myself talking to God. I don’t let His speak to me. I have my agenda and needs and don’t give God the chance to share His agenda in my needs. In this, I find myself babbling basically.
I’ve witnessed the gift of Tongues and have prayed often for this Gift. God had answered a couple times but not long sustained. So, I know my ‘babbling’ prayers aren’t a Gift of the Holy Spirit.
God has an answer in Scripture if this is you as well. St. Paul writes in Romans..
“In the same way, even the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs that cannot be put into words. And the one who searches hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” – Romans 8:26-27
As I reflect though, I do know God has given to me the Gift of Prophecy. No, not the type of prophecy that can tell who will win the Stanley Cup or who you will marry. The Gift of Prophecy is to speak as the prophets speak. Remember, you are a prophet. When you are baptized, you are baptized a priest, a prophet, and a king. I believe the Spirit of Jesus wants to move in the hearts of individuals, allowing them to speak prophetically.
What does that mean?
For me, it is two-fold. First, as my friend and prophet Patrick Campbell says, I have the ability to unpack the words of God. I can take the words God shares in the Bible or spiritual writings of the saints and ‘translate’ them into words that fit a person’s situation. Often, these reflections on The Road of Faith are just that. As I read my Bible, God will share to me something that I will feel compelled to write about. He’s shared through actual words or within my heart. Then, weeks later when this reflection posts, someone will share in comments or directly to me that those words were exactly what they needed to hear in that moment.
Another that is closely tied with “unpacking” is word of encouragement. God wants to give a word of encouragement to somebody. Somebody that you have coffee with is just struggling tremendously. Often they don’t even share their struggle but the Spirit shares through you words that hit the mark in their moment. The Spirit wants to be able to move through you, and you give a word that you just sense—something is moving in your heart, and you’re supposed to say something—and that word encourages them.
The Lord wants to use us to be able to speak to His people. God gives a prophetic voice to His people and invites us in the times to speak, and He moves in us so as to impact the Body of Christ.
So, stop. First, yes, hush – stop talking. Stop and listen for a moment – is God saying something He wants you to hear? Then, share those words – maybe just in your own journal for you to read later. I have volumes of journal writings that are specifically for that reason.
Gos does want to speak to His people. Sometimes, He asks to use your voice.