Pray Like A Prophet
You have the power to prophesy. Your words have the power to build another’s faith and bring the kingdom.
“David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons…for the ministry of prophesying…under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD. (All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him.” 1 Chronicles 25:1-5
What do you think of when you think of prophecy? Do you think of fortune telling and palm reading? Is this the area of the Bible that feels more superstitious than sacred? Prophecy is meant to be a common practice where we allow the Holy Spirit’s power within us to work and speak the promises of God out loud.
Biblical prophecy is about speaking or expressing truth before we have seen an outcome. Biblical prophecy here is not predicting the future, but standing on God’s character. It comes to life with Spirit-inspired words that speak truth, focus on God’s character and covenant, and remember the works of God. Jesus always told people to change the way they think, and one of the ways we can change the way we think is through prayer.
Notice the seer in the story. The seer is someone whose eyes are built to believe. The seer has eyes that are expectant. Do you have eyes to see? When you look around, are you anticipating signs that God is working ahead of you? When you pray, are you believing that God is going to answer?
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you…Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night…the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him” Psalms 63:1, 3-6, 11
David prophesied his praise. Do you see how he sings with expectation? Look at the words that David uses. He does not beg for God to bless. He declares that God will do again what he has done before. He stands on the promises of God.
All his words declare that God will move, not asking if God would answer.
What do your prayers sound like? Do they sound like pennies tossed in the ocean, wishes thrown in a well, or words that can never be broken because they have been spoken by a God who always keeps his promises? It is by faith that we praise God.
Our faith should be expressed in our prayers.
Are you open to trying something new? David said he remembered what God had done during the watches of the night. It is important to look back so that you know that you stand on solid ground. The best foundation we can have is the word of God, both written and spoken. When we connect the Bible to our prayers, they become bolder.
Make this personal. What are some Bible verses that are particularly meaningful to you? Pause and ask God to put someone on your heart and then pray the verse over their life. As we stand on God’s promises, we will see his power at work.
If you are unsure of or do not know God’s word very well, here’s a sample of some of God’s promises. You can say: Lord, You promise that You will never leave me or forsake me, that You will be with me wherever I go, and that Your grace is sufficient for me. You promise to give wisdom when I ask, strength when I am weary, peace when I am anxious, and rest when I come to You. You promise to work all things together for good, to forgive me when I confess, to guide my steps when I trust You, and to finish the good work You began in me. You are my refuge and my strength, my provider and my shepherd. Your mercies are new every morning, and nothing can separate me from Your love. Help me trust Your promises today.
Now take it a step further and prophesy. Declare, Lord, you will be with me today. Lord, you will provide all I need. Lord, you will calm every anxious thought. Lord, you will guide my steps.
Lord, you will use my gifts and build your kingdom through all that I offer before you today. Whatever it is that you need, connect your prayers with God’s promises with the faith that you will see them come to pass.
“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor…ensnared by the words of your mouth…free yourself…How long will you lie there, you sluggard? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you…correction and instruction are the way to life, Do not lust in your heart” Proverbs 6:1-25
The Bible says that you reap what you sow. Solomon warned the people to be careful about how what you do will affect your tomorrow. Each of the things that Solomon shares connects a future outcome with a present decision. How are your choices today preparing you for a better tomorrow?
Solomon said if you sow seeds of sleep, you will harvest poverty.
The same logic can be reverse engineered.
If you find yourself in a place of scarcity in any area of your life, look back to see what you sowed. Solomon shared what the Lord hates, and each has a cause-and-effect impact on our lives.
Eyes that are haughty lead to a prideful person. God warns against lust and envy. It may seem harmless, but when you look with lust, you will harvest dissatisfaction. Think about how each of the things God hates harms relationships. God wants to draw us closer to Him and each other. Anything that causes us to be less loving is something He does not like.
The good news is God does not let us stay where we are. Wisdom tells us that correction and instruction are the way to life.
God speaks and tells us how we need to change. God gives us correction that we might end up in a better place. He speaks prophetically to us, hoping that we will hold on to the words that will produce righteous fruit. When was the last time you thanked God for correction? Can you see how correction connects to a preferred future?
“This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations…that day belongs to the Lord, the LORD Almighty…Pack your belongings for exile, you who live in Egypt, for Memphis will be laid waste and lie in ruins without inhabitant…Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the LORD…I will discipline you but only in due measure” Jeremiah 46:1-28
There are two principles taught in this prophetic message. First, we are never meant to go back to our old life. We are made new in Christ.
Going back to Egypt is the same as going back to your old life. Egypt is where the people were enslaved, and Egypt is where they do not belong.
How often do we go back to our old patterns and wonder why we are not experiencing the power of the new life? God wants us to always be moving forward. He warns the people that those who go back to Egypt will end up in exile.
The second principle is that God wants to help us get rid of our fear, and discipline is part of the process of building our faith. He wants us to know that He has a plan and loves us perfectly. When we’ve gone astray, he disciplines us in due measure.
Discipleship involves correction and instruction. Very few of us celebrate discipline, but the Lord disciplines the one He loves. God gives us the grace we need when we fall short and the truth we need to move forward.
How did these passages relate to you? Have you been tempted to return to Egypt or felt like you were alone? Hold on to the promises of God that He is with us and has a plan to take us to a better place.
“Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.” Acts 15:1-31
What do we see in the early church? What do you see in people who are living by faith and walking by the Spirit? You see people praying and praising, removing barriers, helping people understand they belong, and expecting to see signs of God’s presence. They were not simply reacting to their circumstances; they were responding to what they knew about God. They believed His promises, trusted His Word, and praised Him before they could see what He was going to do. Their praise was prophetic because it declared the truth of God in the midst of uncertainty.
We are invited to live the same way. Do not wait until you see the answer to worship God. Instead, speak with authority and use your words to speak life into dead places. Praise Him for who He is and what He has promised. Stand on His promises when your circumstances are uncertain. Speak His truth when fear and doubt will not stop talking. Faith is not pretending that the problem is not there; it is believing that God is greater and that His Word is more certain than what you can presently see. Jesus said blessed are those who believe yet do not see.
Remember who you are and where you stand. What is your step of faith today? Jesus has already paid the price. You have been bought by His blood and set free. You do not have to live controlled by fear, sin, or circumstances. Pray prophetically on His promises. Praise Him before the answer comes. Walk forward by faith. Ask yourself what you would pray if you knew it would be answered then do it.
Let your life become a declaration that says, Jesus, I know who You are, I know what You have promised, and I will live by faith in you alone. For it is by faith we are saved through grace, and through trust that our tests will turn into testimonies. The future is bright as we believe.