I Just Know

A few years ago, I met a woman while our kids were swimming at our community pool. She was this amazing indigenous North African woman who spoke several languages, had achieved many academic successes, and was super friendly. Her daughters were so well behaved and were also able to keep up with the energy of my own kids. I was so excited to have a new friend to hang out with by the pool.As we got to know each other, it came up that I go to church and am a Christian. I will forever remember that while I was talking she put up her hand and told me that she doesn’t believe in God, that religion is oppressive, and that she respects my beliefs but I should respect hers. In those 10 seconds, God immediately gave me insight into the trauma that she had experienced as a child. (This is called a Word of Knowledge.) I knew she had never shared anything with anyone, that she carried shame, and that now as an adult (with her adulthood experiences) she was struggling with depression, insecurity, self-medicating, PTSD and more. I knew with time that I would be able to share my own story with her, how I have freedom in Christ and am able to live a happy life (aka: My testimony).Over the next two years because of that Word of Knowledge, I was able to share my story with her, tell her about God, get her a Bible, pray with her for hours, share scriptures with her, let her tell her story, and talk about healing and the brain. She started attending our church, got into healing groups, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and was able to share her stories with other women. She would tell you today that she is anchored, grounded, and believes in God. She is devoted to the Lord. She rejoices daily. She once said, “I know the Lord sees my heart and knows that I am on His side. I am no longer a puppet for the devil to play with and abuse. Every morning I say to myself, “Be still and know that He is God.” I go on with my day and feel peaceful.” 

She is one of many women that I have been able to understand without them sharing anything with me because of the Word of Knowledge. God gives me the Word of Knowledge and then there’s a confirmation. Sometimes it can be confirmed with the story they share, their body language, choice of words in a conversation, the way they act in a crowd, or even the way they may sit in silence. I say, “I just know what I am hearing from the Holy Spirit is right.”My story took a couple of years, but the Holy Spirit can even use you within a few minutes. I have a friend who has operated in the Word of Knowledge with strangers. My friend was out having lunch when the Holy Spirit revealed to her that the waitress was experiencing sadness because of illness in her family. She asked the waitress, “Are you okay?” and she confirmed that there was a family relative with cancer. They were able to pray together.  See, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of Knowledge to show people that God cares about their life and knows about their pain - He sees it, cares about it, and it is a way to show the person His love. The Word of Knowledge is supernatural. It’s a supernatural thought that you get about the other person’s life - even just in one area of their life. It is a thought that you wouldn’t know in the natural and is part of the nine Supernatural Power Gifts of the Holy Spirit found in 1 Corinthians 12. … to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.At our Fame event earlier this year, Pastor Tami reminded us that these gifts can be used in all of us. They are given to you when the Holy Spirit sees fit, in His timing and within His will.  The Holy Spirit can use any of the 9 Supernatural Power Gifts at any time, in any order, and even multiple gifts at once. The Holy Spirit works with you - it’s a partnership. Make yourself available and open to these gifts, have faith for these gifts, and the Holy Spirit will be able to use you. (Remember that just because you’ve worked in this gifting once… it doesn’t mean you own it and can do it again on your command. You can only use this gift if it’s the Holy Spirit’s will.)Let’s pray and ask the Lord to give you the gift of the Word of Knowledge: Dear God, I ask for a supernatural thought about someone's life. I ask that the Holy Spirit uses the Word of Knowledge to show people that God cares about their life and knows about their pain - He sees it, cares about it, and it is a way to show the person His love. Amen.If you get to experience this gift after praying this prayer or if you have you’ve ever operated in the Word of Knowledge I’d love to hear about it. Please share it with us in the comments below.Love and with joy,Kayla Dickens