day 133: Encouragers Checklist (X)

1 Thessalonians 5:20

Do not scoff at prophecies.

**************************

Have you ever had someone tell you something (could be considered a prophesy) and you think 'yeah right'... and then it happens and are like, "WHA!!!?"

We should never scoff at godly people who are telling us things about God.  Even if we don't see it happening in our lives, it is not good to laugh at them or think them as silly.

If it is a fortune teller or a fortune cookie, that's fine--- scoff away.  But if it is from a preacher, teacher, or godly person-- listen.  See if you can find the truth in their words.  See if you can feel God in their words.  Search in the Bible and in your heart to see if you can understand what has been said to you.

I was at a prayer revival meeting the other day, and the speaker stopped right in the middle of everything, looked right at me (she had been staring for a while) and said, "Do't try to do it yourself.  God will take care of it."

That could mean a lot of things in my life, and was a prophesy of sorts.  I shouldn't (and didn't) mock it or make light of it. I don't entirely know what it means... I have an idea, but still. It was something that someone felt like God was telling me.  And I appreciate that.

How does this encourage others?

If you get the guts up to tell someone a prophesy you got from God for them, and then they scoff at you-- you are likely to turn with you tail between your legs and never do it again.  That hurts YOU and the person who told you.  Don't be the type of person who discourages someone.  Simply say thank you, and walk off if you don't believe it's from God. If you do, really reflect on what it means and why someone told you that.

If you are the one getting the message, tell the other person anyway.  It might be the one thing they needed to hear to confirm their suspecions about how they are supposed to work for God.

We have a few more of the Encouragers Checklist left to go. I hope and pray they are helping you as much as they are helping me to learn about them.

God Bless You,
Kelly