In the book Like Dragons Did They Fight there is a list of questions called "The Captain's Log." These questions form the core of many of the services provided by Life Changing Services. These questions and the way they are phrased were carefully refined over a period of years. Of these questions the one that gets the least attention is Question 6, or Q6 as it is commonly known among those who attend some of the LCS programs.
The purpose of Q6 is to learn the spiritual gift of prophecy. Warriors practice predicting when and how they will be attacked next, then plan how they will win that battle. Though it often is used the least, Q6 is a powerful tool that can make fighting and winning much easier when it is consistently used. Answering Q6 in a way that is accurate and helpful requires following a process and frequent practice.
I'm sure there are many ways to explain how to learn the spiritual Gift of Prophecy, but this three step process is the way that makes the most sense to me.
- Connect with God
- Review recent battle history/look for patterns
- Identify vulnerabilities in near future/make best guess
Step 1. Connect with God
Because you are trying to learn a spiritual gift, it is essential that you connect with the one who gives that gift. The prayer doesn’t have to be lengthy so long as it is sincere. For me it is helpful to approach this conversation as if I am an officer on the front lines of a battle speaking to the general who is standing on the hill with a spyglass. That prayer might sound something like, “Heavenly Father, I know that you see a lot more than I can. I am trying to prepare for the enemy’s next attack. Will you please lend me some of your knowledge so that I may know where and how he will come at me next?”
Step 2. Review recent battle history
Often times, Satan will find a tactic that works against you and use it over and over again. By identifying the recent patterns from your battles you can gain insight on what he is likely going to use in the near future. When reviewing battles from the past days or weeks it is helpful to consider three questions.
- Is there a common time of day that Satan likes to attack? Is it closer to when you wake up, closer to when you go to bed, or somewhere in the middle?
- Is there a common location that the attacks begin? (Ex: at work, school, in front of the TV, in bed, in the bathroom, while driving, etc.)
- Is there a common tactic that Satan uses? (Ex: boredom, anxiety, too tired, Midnight Ambush, Bedtime Blitz, etc.)
By reviewing these questions it becomes a lot easier to identify what patterns Satan has used in the past and which ones he is likely to use in the future.
Step 3. Identify upcoming vulnerabilities
The final step is to look for times and places that you will be vulnerable in the coming hours or days. The patterns you just discovered in Step 2 will help you know what to look for. After you identify these vulnerabilities, make your best educated guess on where, when, and how Satan will attack. Try to notice the nudges of the Holy Ghost as he helps you refine your prediction and make it more accurate. As you practice you will become more and more accurate in your prophecies.
Once you have predicted when and how Satan will attack you, you can make plans to win the battle before it starts. I know many warriors who will create a battle plan and then set a reminder to go off before the battle is supposed to start so they can remember to get the first strike in.
An element that will help the whole process is if you write down what you learn in steps 2 and 3 as well as the prediction you make. Writing things down helps you put more thought into it and it helps you remember it better. It also is a sign to God of how you care about the inspiration He gives you. In a talk on revelation and inspiration, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
When it is for the Lord’s purposes, He can bring anything to our remembrance. That should not weaken our determination to record impressions of the Spirit. Inspiration carefully recorded shows God that His communications are sacred to us. Recording will also enhance our ability to recall revelation. Such recording of direction of the Spirit should be protected from loss or intrusion by others. (Ensign, May 2012)
As you frequently practice learning to prophesy with sincerity and act on the things you learn, the process will become easy and familiar to you. You will draw nearer to God and be more able to recognize the promptings he gives you. In very rare, sacred, and special circumstances God may even make you His instrument by giving you a prophecy on another's behalf. Whether or not this happens to you, treasure this sacred trust of the Gift of Personal Prophecy and you will see your ability to fight and win tremendously increase.
To hire me as your life coach where we can create a plan to put the above principles into practice for you, follow this link. Fighting Like a Dragon - Life Coaching
To hire me as your life coach where we can create a plan to put the above principles into practice for you, follow this link. Fighting Like a Dragon - Life Coaching
