From Pit to Palace

"And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.”
- John 14:29

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

In the New Testament, prophecy is given to build up, encourage, and bring comfort, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 14:3. This gives us a helpful picture of how the Holy Spirit most often speaks through His people, in both ordinary moments and more difficult seasons for the church and the world.

At the same time, God does at times bring warnings, corrections, or sober messages about what may lie ahead. These, too, have a place within New Testament prophecy. The question is not whether a word sounds positive or challenging, but what heart and purpose are behind it.

In the Old Testament, prophetic warnings were tied to covenant judgment. When Israel broke the law, prophets announced the consequences. Their role was primarily to call the nation back to faithfulness under the covenant they had violated.

The cross changed everything for us. Judgment was dealt with at Calvary. As a result, New Testament prophecy operates in partnership with the Holy Spirit, not out of a place of condemnation. Even when a word points to an issue, a correction, or a challenging season ahead, the purpose remains redemptive. Such words are meant to guide us toward God’s plans, His healing, and His heart.

A simple way to see the difference is this: in the Old Covenant, warnings were connected to judgment, while in the New Covenant, warnings are connected to care. A loving Father speaks clearly to His children because He desires to protect them and provide for them.

We see this pattern throughout the New Testament. Agabus foretold a coming famine in Acts 11 and later warned Paul about imprisonment in Acts 21. Jesus spoke firmly to several churches in Revelation. Paul explained to Timothy how deception would arise in the last days. None of these messages was given to create fear. Instead, they were loving, sober reminders meant to prepare and strengthen God’s people.

Paul also reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:9 that we know and prophesy in part. This humility helps us approach prophetic words responsibly. Rather than assuming we see the whole picture, we recognize our need for one another. We weigh prophetic words against Scripture, invite trusted and mature believers into the process, and pray for discernment brings protection and often adds strength and clarity to the word.

Jesus’ words in John 14:29 provide reassurance when we encounter serious or sobering prophetic warnings. He explains that He tells us things in advance so that when they come to pass, we may believe. His goal is trust, not fear. He wants faith to overcome fear, peace to still anxiety, and courage to rise above doubts.

We should always pay attention when the Holy Spirit speaks to awaken us, calls us to repentance, or warns us of danger. One simple way to discern His voice is this: if a message leaves you feeling condemned, hopeless, or trapped, it is likely not from Him. But when a message draws you toward life, wisdom, repentance, or renewed faith, it aligns beautifully with the purpose of New Testament prophecy.

Many Blessings, BW

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
- 2 Peter 1:19

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Dear People Who Keep Company with God, 

Peter compares prophecy to a lamp shining in a dark place. Without its light, the church can drift into worldliness and spiritual darkness. When prophecy is embraced in a healthy way, it helps us see clearly and walk wisely. Right now, the Holy Spirit is highlighting how He is shaping prophetic ministry in this season, helping us better understand and walk in it.

A cleansing is taking place. God is removing performance, sensationalism, celebrity culture, and vague, prediction-driven ministry. He is restoring the prophetic to its true purpose, rooted in His heart, His Word, and His character. The Holy Spirit is refining the prophetic, not discarding it. 

While prophecy includes words of knowledge, healings, miracles, signs, and even insight into future events, these are not its central focus. At its core, prophecy exists to reveal Jesus, honor Him, and draw attention to Him. The Holy Spirit is bringing the prophetic back to a simple place of listening to Him, loving Him, and helping others see Him more clearly.

Words about future events are a valid part of biblical prophecy. Jesus said the Spirit would show us things to come (John 16:13). At the same time, the Holy Spirit has been emphasizing prophecies that shape our growth. There is a renewed focus on identity, courage, repentance, and unity. The prophetic is not only informative; it is transformative.

The Holy Spirit is raising up voices that reflect the Father's heart. These are voices that can correct without crushing, warn without wounding, and invite people into a life marked by hope. The tone is shifting, and that shift itself is evidence of the spirit at work.

He is also teaching the church how to weigh and discern the prophetic. This may be one of the most important developments of all. The body of Christ is maturing. People are no longer receiving everything uncritically. They are learning to test the spirits, weigh words carefully, look for fruit, examine motives, measure everything against Scripture, and value character. As the church matures, it becomes a safer place for the prophetic, and the prophetic strengthens the church's health.

For a long time, prophetic ministry largely lived “out there” in conferences, online platforms, and itinerant personalities. That season played an important role in God’s restoration of the prophetic to His people. Now it feels as though God is bringing it into the church's living room. In that space, there is room for accountability, ongoing discipleship, shared discernment, and life together.

The prophetic is not meant to stay within the walls of the church. It calls the church into the world God loves. There is a growing expression of prophetic evangelism that feels natural rather than awkward, marked by boldness in speaking life into dark places and by spiritual authority in everyday moments. The Holy Spirit is weaving prophetic ministry into the fabric of daily life.

Clearer, humbler, and more Christ-centered prophetic voices are emerging from the ashes of past mistakes and failures. The Holy Spirit is not only shaping prophetic ministers. He is forming a prophetic people. Every believer can learn to hear His voice, grow in discernment, and reflect the Father’s heart to those around them. The Holy Spirit is inviting you to embrace this and become one of the prophetic voices He is raising up in this hour.

 Many Blessings, BW

My heart is moved with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” 
- Psalm 45:1

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

We are living in a significant prophetic era. According to the Hebrew calendar, the current decade, 5780 to 5789, which corresponds to 2020 to 2029, is represented by the Hebrew letter Peh, meaning "mouth." The focus of this season is communication, our voice, and the power of speech. As we enter the second half of this decade, the call for a higher form of speech is becoming clearer. This is a call to unite our hearts with His and to use our words as instruments of blessing, healing, and truth.

Psalm 45 beautifully connects the heart and the mouth. It opens with the words, “My heart overflows with a good theme.” What resides in the heart will eventually find expression through the mouth. Jesus affirmed this when He said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:33-37). Our words are the windows into our inner lives.

I have always been moved by the way the psalmist describes Jesus, saying, “Grace is poured upon Your lips.” His words were saturated with grace because His heart was perfectly aligned with the Father. I see this as a description of Jesus, and an invitation for us. Our words shape atmospheres. They can release life and hope or stir confusion and darkness. God desires a people who speak as His mouthpieces, with words formed by His heart. Grace-filled words flow from a grace-filled heart.

This is why stewarding our voice matters so much right now. During the height of the pandemic, the Lord gave me a sobering prophetic word: “Some will be given a voice, and some who have a voice will lose it. My plan is for you to have a voice. Do not lose it through the compromise of truth.” At the time, I did not fully understand the weight of those words. Since then, we have watched many prominent voices in the church lose credibility, clarity, or influence.

Scripture gives us a vivid picture of what a God-shaped voice sounds like. In Revelation, John describes the voice of Jesus as a trumpet, the sound of many waters, and a sharp, two-edged sword. (Revelation 1:10, 15-16) This vision does not stop with Jesus alone. It extends to His people. “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come” (Revelation 22:17). This is the body of Christ, unified and speaking together through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God’s desire is for a collective voice on the earth. This isn’t about everyone having the same opinion or perfect agreement on every matter. It’s a united Bride who speaks with one heart, free from lesser loyalties and personal offenses. It’s the voice of a people in love with Jesus, surrendered to Him, and aligned with His purposes.

That is the tension of this moment. Will we speak with both grace and truth, or will we grow silent and careless with our words? 

Your voice matters. Do not lose it. Let God shape, guard, and use your voice for His glory.

Many Blessings, BW

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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
- 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Dear People Who Keep Company with God, 

When Paul closed his last letter to the Corinthians, he wasn’t just wrapping things up nicely. His final words carried the heartbeat of everything he had written. This wasn’t a formula. It was a holy invitation into the life and fullness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Paul had walked a long and emotional road with this church. His first letter brought correction, calling out pride, division, immorality, and immaturity. His second letter opened his heart wide. You can see Paul’s love, his hurt, and his hope for reconciliation. None of it was easy. But after all the hard conversations and tears, Paul didn’t end his letter in frustration or disappointment, but with a blessing. He called them to lift their eyes to see the grace, love, and fellowship that flow from God Himself.

I love how intentional Paul’s words are. He begins with “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace is always where life with God begins and ends (Revelation 22:21). It’s what met Paul on the road to Damascus and turned his passion for religion into compassion for people. Grace reminds us that failure isn’t final, and no one is beyond redemption. For a church that had stumbled in so many ways, that reminder must have felt like fresh air to tired hearts.

Then Paul speaks of “the love of God.” That’s the love of the Father, the love that started our redemption. He loved us before we ever turned toward Him. It’s the love that sent Jesus into our world, carried Paul through every trial, and held that fragile church together. The Corinthians knew what broken human love looked like, but Paul points them to a love that’s steady, pure, and healing.

Finally, Paul prays that they would know “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” The word koinōnia means partnership and shared life. Through the Spirit, we’re united with Christ and with each other. The Spirit draws us into communion, not competition. For a church full of division and ego, that closing line was a gentle invitation back to shared life, calling them to walk in step with the Spirit who brings us together.

And really, this blessing reflects Paul’s own story. He wasn’t speaking as a theologian trying to write a perfect ending. He was speaking as a man who had lived it. He had been rescued by the grace of Christ, fathered by the love of God, and strengthened by the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Out of what he had personally experienced, he spoke a blessing over the church.

So when you hear these words today, don’t just treat them like a nice goodbye. They’re alive. They carry the heartbeat of God. They invite us to live every day out of grace, love, and fellowship, letting these words become part of how we see the Lord and people, and of how we walk with the One who is all three Himself.

Many Blessings, BW

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
- Revelation 19:10

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Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

When John, as an old man, received the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the island of Patmos, he was overwhelmed by the glory of what he saw. At one point, he fell at an angel’s feet to worship, but the angel quickly corrected him: “Don’t do that! Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” In that moment, John was reminded, and we are invited to remember, that even the most extraordinary revelations and heavenly visions point back to one Person: Jesus Christ.

That brief exchange reveals an important truth: every genuine prophetic word reflects the heart of Jesus. Prophecy isn’t simply about predicting the future or sharing spiritual insights; it’s about revealing who Jesus is and what He’s doing among His people and in the world.

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells one unified story of God’s plan to redeem and restore humanity through His Son. The prophets looked forward to His coming, the apostles testified to His resurrection, and the Holy Spirit continues to reveal Him today. Every genuine prophetic voice, regardless of the time or place, ultimately finds its meaning in Him.

The angel’s words remind us that the essence of true revelation is seeing and knowing Jesus Himself. Without Him, prophecy becomes hollow and noisy. With Him, it brings life, conviction, and hope. 

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of prophecy, works to make Jesus known (John 15:26). Whether through Scripture, a prophetic message, or a quiet word of encouragement, His goal remains the same: to draw hearts closer to Christ. He doesn’t point to personalities or movements; He points to King Jesus.

That truth anchors us in a world full of voices claiming to speak on God's behalf. We can discern what we hear by asking a simple question: Does this reveal Jesus? If it magnifies Him, reflects His character, and aligns with His Word, then it carries the true spirit of prophecy. But if it exalts people, stirs up fear, or departs from the gospel, it’s something else entirely.

At its core, prophecy invites us to deepen our relationship with Jesus. It’s not just about sharing information, it’s about transformation. When God speaks, He doesn’t merely predict; He calls us to repentance, trust, and fellowship with Him.

One of the most powerful prophetic messages we can all share is our personal testimony of Christ: what He has done in our lives, how He has transformed us, and how His grace continues to shape us each day.  As the apostle Paul wrote, “You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31).

The same Holy Spirit who once inspired the prophets now lives within us. We’re invited to join the same prophetic flow that the angel spoke to John about in Revelation, the revealing of Jesus Christ through our words and lives, so that others might see Him more clearly and come to know the One to whom all heaven points.

Many Blessings, BW

So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
- Ruth 1:22

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

Every season of life we experience offers a gift from God. It's often said that autumn is the best season because it looks as beautiful as it feels. Autumn arrives with its own special charm: crisp air, colorful leaves, and a sense of both harvest and change. The cooler temperatures and changing colors remind us that life moves in seasons, where endings and new beginnings frequently occur. In Scripture, the harvest holds deep spiritual significance, and one of the clearest examples is found in the Book of Ruth.

Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest—a detail full of meaning. In the Bible, harvest often symbolizes God’s provision and the fulfillment of His promises. For Naomi, who had returned home feeling hollow and bitter after years of loss, the harvest marked a turning point. It was during this season that God’s faithfulness began to restore the loss and brokenness in Naomi’s life.

For Ruth, a Moabite outsider, the harvest signified the beginning of belonging and redemption. The timing of their arrival in Bethlehem was not accidental; it was a divine appointment, a reminder that there are times of refreshing and renewal from the presence of the Lord, even when everything seems lost.

As Ruth gleaned in Boaz's fields, God’s compassionate heart was revealed. The law of Israel provided for the poor and foreigners during the harvest (Leviticus 19:9–10). What could have been a time of despair turned into a season of abundance thanks to God’s wisdom and kindness. Autumn’s lesson is clear: when we trust Him, God provides not just enough, but more than enough.

Autumn reminds us that every season in life serves a purpose. Naomi and Ruth faced famine, grief, and displacement, but their arrival in Bethlehem marked a major change. Just as autumn leaves burst with color before falling, periods of loss can prepare us for new beginnings. Ruth’s faithfulness in the fields led to her marriage with Boaz, a union that placed her in the lineage of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ.

This season encourages us to reflect on the harvests in our own lives. Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Like farmers waiting patiently for crops to ripen, we are called to persevere, trusting God’s perfect timing. The effort of faith, whether in relationships, work, or spiritual growth, produces fruit in its season.

This autumn, remember Ruth gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem. What began as a time of loss and emptiness ultimately became a testament to God’s redemptive power and compassion. Autumn, with its cooler air, colorful leaves, and bountiful harvests, whispers that God is always at work, transforming emptiness into fullness and weaving stories of hope and renewal into our lives.

Many Blessings, BW