By Helen Calder

Have you noticed that there is an inbuilt curiosity and

yearning in the heart of a prophetic person to reach out to God for the revelation of His
plans and purposes?

This is especially true when we enter a new season, such as a new year. We want to see what
the Father is seeing and hear what He is speaking.

If you would like to develop your prophetic gift, and especially if you would like to
develop your gift of prophetic vision, here is a prophetic activation  exercise to start the
year off with.

Use these questions to wait on the Lord for a powerful prophetic picture and word for
yourself, or for another person you are praying for.

1. What (new) name is the Father calling me by, in

reference to this coming season?
‘You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.’ (Is 62:2b)
(Read Isaiah 62:2-4)

The Lord often calls forth His plans and purposes in us with a descriptive name. He named
Abram, Abaham, ‘Father of many nations’ (Gen 17:5) while he was still childless. The angel
of the Lord addressed Gideon as ‘Mighty warrior,’ though he was in hiding from the enemy
(Judges 6:12)

We do not need to let the past define us, not even our recent history.

Ask the Lord for a name or description that is in keeping with your spiritual identity and
calling for this year and beyond. As you agree with Jesus about who you are and what you
are capable of, His word will bring transformation to your life and things of the past will
begin to drop off you.

The second question is related to this:

2. What is the picture of me—in Jesus—that God is giving
me, that will help prepare me to reach my highest
potential in the coming year?
For Abraham, that was a vision of his descendents. For Gideon, the name the Lord gave him
was evocative of leading others into battle and winning in warfare.

If you have a ‘seer’ prophetic gift and have an ability to perceive pictures, visions and
dreams, this exercise will be easier for you. If not, or you are uncertain, you might find it
simpler to ask the Lord for a Biblical character that you can identify with.

Here are some more questions that may help you:

3. What Garment has God Given to Me?

Here are some Biblical examples of symbolic clothing:

 Joseph’s coat of many colours (Gen 37:3)

 Robe of righteousness (Is 61:10)
 Signet ring of authority (Esther 8:2)
 New mantle (Gen 41:42)
 Holding a sword (Eph 6:17)

There could also be a non-Biblical symbol or garment that has specific meaning to you.

4. What am I doing?
Some examples are:

 Witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

 Stomping on the enemy (Luke 10:19)
 Dancing (Ps 30:11)
 Caring for hurting people (Luke 10:34)
 Resting (Ps 23:2)

(Hint: use a word ending in ‘ing’! Some other examples are: preaching, leading, enlisting,
moving, and so on)
5. Some more questions you can ask as you seek God’s
picture for your new season are:
 What am I saying? (to people)
 What am I praying? (to God)
 Where am I standing?
 Who is with me?

And finally,

 What is in my hand that God can use? (Exodus 4:2)

God has given us an imagination. As prophetic people let’s

surrender it to Him and allow Him to anoint it for His use.
Once you have a picture from the Lord, use it to build your faith. Journal about it. Refer to it
often and commit it to memory.

When you have the assurance of how God sees you, it can help dispel old identities and
negative thinking. Belief will rise up in your heart and you will begin to walk in that God-
given vision. For some of you, that may mean walking boldly, with Divine confidence. For
others, it may mean simply relaxing into His plans and purposes for your life and
experiencing peace, no matter what circumstances you are currently facing.