While I was working on my previous blog post, Ask God for Confirmation , I believe the Lord spoke to me concerning His personal words to me.  That entry was from 1999 and I published it last week; May 31, 2025. If this post doesn’t make sense, it might help to read that one!

From the journal. . . . May 2025

Lord, I’m reading in Jeremiah 14. Jeremiah is telling Israel about the bad things that are coming to them because of their rebellion against God. He also tells Jeremiah to stop praying for those people. God is no longer for them and He will send them war, famine, and disease. Then Jeremiah tells the Lord how the other prophets are telling the people that everything will be just fine and that the Lord will bring them peace. Here’s God’s response.

Then the Lord said, “These prophets are telling lies in My name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made-up in their own lying hearts. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I will punish these lying prophets for they have spoken in My name even though I never sent them.   Jeremiah 14:14-15a NLT

God is not pleased with those who speak words in His name when He hasn’t sent them.  They will be punished.

When I read this, I was reminded of a time that I was encouraging a friend (I’ll call Jazmin) who thought God was mad at her. I literally said, “God is not mad at you.”  Later the Lord nailed me because He hadn’t specifically told me to tell her that. 

Did I know He wasn’t mad at her?  No, but I assumed He wasn’t. 

Anyway, it was a significant enough conviction that I had to go back to my dear friend and explain that God hadn’t specifically told me that He wasn’t mad at her.*  She understood and thanked me, but it was very humbling.

Ohh Lord. This Jeremiah passage is troubling. You mostly give me words of encouragement for people, and I love that. However, I am wondering if I will know for sure if I shouldn’t share a particular word or if the word is mine and not Yours.

And I Believe God Said:

Remember Jazmin! You heard Me tell you to take it back and you did because your desire to obey Me was greater than your desire to please her. Remind your people to ask Me to personally confirm your words to them.

Judges 6:17 So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me. NLT
Gideon was a great one for wanting signs and the Lord was very accommodating.      Judges 6:17-23. Judges 36-40
James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. NASB

I am glad to do that with inner peace, a specific verse, someone else’s prayer, a sign, wonder, or circumstance. Listen and I will speak. Look and I will reveal. Trust and you will find answers.

Matt 11:15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! NLT
Matt 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. NASB

Since surrendering my life to the Lord, I daily ask Him to direct my steps and I believe He does. I also believe His timing is very significant. When I worked on the last blog post (Ask for Confirmation) I also happened to be reading the book of Jeremiah in the Bible.  I am taking the warning in chapter 14 seriously and personally even though I do not consider myself a prophet.  I absolutely believe God speaks to me but I can’t say the words are for everyone. If you want to know more about this you can click on About the Journal above this post.

I believe the words are true and in line with what God says in the Bible. I’ve included scripture references not to convince you but for my own peace of mind.

If any of the words are for you, I believe God will confirm it or the words will be a confirmation of something He has already conveyed to you through the Bible or some other means.  He is not limited!!!

* Obviously I am not saying I never speak unless I have clear direction from the Lord, but at that time I felt a clear conviction. The Jeremiah passage reminded me to be cautious with words I accredit to Him. I love the reminder that we are here to please God first and not others.