Dear God, say what now?

Have you ever received a word of prophecy?

I’m not talking about a word spoken over the pulpit to “whoever will receive it.” No, I’m talking about someone calling your name, pointing you out in a crowd or speaking to you directly about God’s plan for your life.

The first time it happened to me I was about 10 or 11 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was in Tallahassee, FL during a revival led by the late, great, Evangelist Joyce Rodgers. I was wearing a red dress. When she called me to the altar, she spoke publicly about what God had planned for my future. Then, as an act of faith and confirmation about my calling, she asked me to pray for an ailing woman also seated at the altar. It was the first time I’d ever laid hands on anyone. That moment was so monumental for me as a child that I used that prophetic word for years as a roadmap to discover what God wanted to do with my life.

The second time it happened was in 2020. I was taking a dream interpretation course. During one of our classes, I was explaining a dream I’d recently had about a friend. After providing an interpretation, the course instructor immediately began to speak about the specific ministry God had given me. I was stunned. At that time, the most I’d accomplished was publishing a few books and hosting a few events. It was difficult to imagine that God wanted me to do greater works. I felt so inadequate. Still, as the instructor spoke, it provided more clarity and direction than I’d had in a long time. And as a result, I used that prophetic word to help me understand my spiritual gifts and the type of women I was created to serve.

The third time it happened was Monday, April 18, 2022. I was on The Real Room talking about “Profit vs Prophet” with my cohost and our special guest. As the show was coming to an end, our guest said my name and began speaking to me. As he spoke, he gave voice to fears I’d never expressed but needed to be conquered, thoughts I kept hidden but needed to be exposed, and desires I didn’t feel worthy enough to possess but needed to be declared. I was stunned speechless. Literally, I couldn’t speak. I’d never felt so naked while wearing clothes, I wanted to cry and scream. It was scary, but also liberating.

It happened again most recently on Friday, April 22, 2022. I was attending a worship service led by the special guest we’d had on The Real Room that week. During prayer, he whispered another prophetic word in my ear. That time, I didn’t try to speak. I just cried. The total weight of the words he’d spoken to me that week suddenly felt heavy. I was still trying to process what he’d revealed to me on Monday, and here it was God calling me higher again, on Friday.

Since that week, I’ve gone from overwhelm, to enlightened, to excited, but nervous, about the possibilities. There are moments when I feel like, “God, you said a lot of things that week to not have given me any specific details. Why do you have to be so elusive? Do you want me to follow your perfect will or not? If so, then just tell me what you want me to do!” Then other days, I’m just grateful that He has a plan for my life. I’m grateful for the confirmation that I’m in my lane, walking along the path He designed for me.

Before 2010, I’m not sure I would’ve welcomed the idea of God wanting to speak to me so directly and profoundly through a prophetic word given by another human being. Religion had me so bound and so ignorant, that I believed salvation was the ultimate purpose for my life. If I hadn’t begun my detox from religion all those years ago, I wouldn’t have discovered that my life will be an answer for others. So, if you’ve been holding back, dimming your light, or limiting yourself because of religious traditions, protocol, false doctrines, and toxic beliefs, what I want for you more than anything is to experience the freedom in Christ that I now enjoy, every day. If this is you, this is your sign that it’s time for The Religious Detox.