5 cautions before you trust a 'word from the Lord'

By Shane Idleman, CP Guest Contributor Wednesday, October 07, 2026

What should we do with dreams, visions, promptings, and “words” from the Lord? According to 1 Corinthians 12–14 and Acts 2:17, it’s clear that God still uses dreams and the gifts of the Spirit to help us discern His will, but it’s an area where we need to be very careful. Additionally, these things should never take the place of God’s principles. They can be supplements, but not the main dish.

I think of the Word as spiritual nutrition. We understand how physical nutrition strengthens and restores the body. Scripture nourishes us spiritually. Most of the questions we face can be answered, at least in principle, by what God has already spoken. Is this wise? Is this righteous? Does this honor God? Whereas gifts, dreams, etc. simply supplement the Word; they never replace it.

Think of an actual supplement. You might take vitamins, but that little tablet isn’t your meal. It supplements the meal. In the same way, Scripture is the meal. The Spirit’s promptings, confirmations, and other forms of guidance never become a substitute for what God has already revealed.

Avoid two extremes

As with many things, people gravitate to extremes. On one end are those who are very emotional and take this topic way beyond the scriptural boundaries. As a result, they become unstable. But on the other end are those who are so closed off that they rarely hear from God. I often use the comparison of a circus environment versus a cemetery. Neither is beneficial. 

If Paul and his companions in Acts 16 had the whole Bible, it wouldn’t have told them to go to Macedonia. They wouldn’t have known. God sometimes leads us in things that aren’t crystal clear. Scripture gives us principles to live by, but it doesn’t always give us the exact direction or course to take. That’s why we have the Holy Spirit, who comes alongside as our Helper.

But the Word must remain primary. It must be our foundation for godliness and how we live. Without that foundation, we can easily be led astray by dreams and visions. You don’t need to constantly ask, “What are the prophets saying?” or always analyze dreams. Ask instead, what is Jesus Christ saying to me every day? Many so-called prophetic voices are so far off, it’s ludicrous. You must be grounded in God’s Word, not in their false words.

Acts 2:17 declares that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh: sons and daughters shall prophesy — they will speak God’s Word with boldness and clarity. And young men will see visions, and old men will dream dreams. But, as stated earlier, this has to do with personal application, not changing doctrine. God may give you new direction, but never a new truth. 

Five important cautions

Most people who are led astray by visions, dreams, or supposed “words from the Lord” spend very little time truly seeking God through His Word and even less time praying. Or they are in a hurry to hear from Him, and they rush ahead. If God uses a dream or a “word” to help direct you, it will line up with His Word.

Here are five cautions. There are obviously more, but these are of primary importance:

1. It's not healthy to seek “words from the Lord”; let them come in God’s time if He desires to go this route. Spend significant time in God’s Word as you pray and seek direction. This is the best way to determine His will. 
2. Prophetic words are often given by God at pivotal moments and are usually not normative. They come supernaturally and sporadically. I have only received a handful of genuine words in over 25 years of ministry, but I receive daily guidance from His Word. 
3. Look at the character of the person sharing their heart with you. Are they using it to control or manipulate, or are they sincere? Are they mature or overly emotional? Did they see one of your social media threads, and are they possibly giving you a fake word? This happens more than you may realize. God may use a person with this type of gifting, but over time they begin to abuse it and are not as humble and gracious as they once were. As a result, they begin thinking that every impulse or thought they receive is of the Lord, but it’s not. Or they give fake “words” in order to maintain the momentum of their ministry. 
4. I don’t believe that supposed “words from the Lord” from others are to be strictly obeyed, but they should be considered. What they say should be tested: “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). Sometimes people are just trying to be encouraging, and it’s “their” word, not God’s word, that they are giving to you.
5. What they are sharing with you must come under God’s Word; prophetic words are not above or equal to Scripture. 

Can we ask for a sign?

Many believers ask for confirmation while disobeying clear teachings of Scripture. For example, a couple living together asks God for confirmation about whether they should marry, a businessman asks for confirmation on a business venture that will compromise his integrity, or a family asks God for confirmation to buy a house that exceeds their financial means.

In all these situations, they are asking for confirmation but are disobedient to God’s Word. First and foremost, Scripture is our confirmation: “Get wisdom … love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Prov. 4:5-7). 

Before making a decision, ask, “Is this wise, and does it line up with God’s Word?” Our pursuit of God’s will must begin with obedience.