Applying What God Says

In Part 1 of this series, we looked at five questions for processing encounters with God:

1. Is this literal or metaphor?
2. What or who does this symbol refer to?
3. What does the symbol mean?
4. What then do I do?
5. What spirit was this revelation given in?

The tools for receiving revelation from God are the same tools we all use to understand the people around us. First, we make sure we've heard what they said (revelation). Then we understand what was said (interpretation). Finally, we apply what was said (application).

If my wife happily told me she enjoyed it when I helped her with the laundry, I've received not one but three things.

• Revelation: "I like that you do laundry."
• Interpretation: "Rebekka wants me to do this more. She responded positively."
• Application: "I need to do this more!"

We know that just as we can misunderstand other people, the same can happen with God if we assume what He is saying without paying real attention.

Seven Questions Before You Respond

You can use any of these, or ask your own:

1. What, if anything, should I do with what You're telling me?
2. Is this something I should do now, or is it for another time?
3. Do I need to reorganize anything in my life based on this word?
4. Do I need to share this with someone else? Perhaps the word was for them.
5. Who can I process this with?
6. Does this line up with what I've already been feeling, or is it foreign to me? If it's new, consider waiting and asking for confirmation.
7. Do faith-filled, godly people around me agree with what I think this means? The greater the risk, the greater the God-story you should have before making any big faith jumps.