Written by Ana Rase

Read: Isaiah 50:4

For me, it starts in the shower. I have these thoughts or ideas, certain people and situations come to mind. It continues while making breakfast. For many years, I ran with the thoughts then went about my day. Often, during the day, the thoughts would come up in a conversation with someone, or I would meet the people that I thought about earlier that day. For years I’d shrug my shoulders, call it a coincidence, and go about my business. For years!

Having witnessed the use of spiritual gifts to control, shame, manipulate, and angrily correct, I wanted to avoid those possibilities by avoiding gifts altogether. For this reason, I didn’t recognize the manifestation of the gift of knowledge in my life.

Thankfully, I began to be mentored by loving and mature leaders, and they showed me how to discern this gift. Now when God shares things about people, I position myself to understand why I have this piece of information and what is God’s heart and His desires for them. In order to gain understanding, I ask questions. I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more to me, and I ask the people I talk to if what I’m perceiving means anything to them.

For example, I was once praying for a young lady, and as I looked at her nails, I immediately heard the word “painting”. I asked her if she was a painter. She hesitantly said yes. I sensed that she was struggling with perfectionism as a stumbling block in her freedom to fully express herself. Then I proceeded in the gift of prophecy revealing God’s heart and desires for her life.

Words of knowledge are small hints we receive with the intent to speak God’s heart in someone’s life.

Weekly Reflection Questions

  1. Has the Spirit ever given you an actionable word for someone to help them progress on their spiritual journey?
  2. Have you ever received an idea of what somebody should do in a particular situation with knowledge you did not naturally have?
  3. Have you ever thought something about a person or situation, only to have it confirmed soon after? Has this happened on multiple occasions to you?
  4. When you think about the gift of a word of wisdom or knowledge, what excites you, challenges you, or makes you hesitant? How could you begin growing in listening to the Holy Spirit with humility and love?