~Alex Wu

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts… For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19,21

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” Jeremiah 1:12

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Prophecies are almost always given in a dark place when there seems to be no hope. Before the day dawns and the morning star rises, the spiritual night often becomes even darker. Shortly after Abraham had received a prophecy of becoming a great nation at age of 75, Lot left him and his family size did not enlarge but shrank. Shortly after Joseph had received prophetic dreams of reigning in his family, he was sold as a slave to Egypt. Shortly after David had been anointed as a king, he became a fugitive, running for his life. Apparently, the enemy also heard the prophetic words and set up his counter-measure to block the prophecies. For God’s people, this becomes a trial of faith.

Recently I was spiritually troubled by why it takes so long for a prophecy to fulfill and whether certain prophetic things will happen at all? Then God’s word enlightened me. When God spoke something, yes the enemy heard it and tried to defeat it, but God heard His own word too. He watched over His word to perform it. All enemy’s counter-measure will be shattered! Hallelujah.

Now what God is trying to accomplish is more than what He directly prophesied since the word is spoken in a short moment and the promise is fulfilled also in an instant. But in between there is a long period of being carried along by the Holy Spirit. Through the process of hoping and waiting, God’s people will receive not only what was promised in the prophecy but also the spirit of faith and perseverance – the product of being carried along by the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord!

Father, thank you for your plan for me. When your prophetic word comes to me, give me words of thanksgiving. But when the situation takes an unexpected turn for the worse after the prophecy, carry me along with the Holy Spirit. I am weak but you are strong. Take me to the end when the morning star rises and my heart is filled with joy. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.