minimize the risk, I have a close circle of colleagues with whom I test these words from the Lord, especially if those words would affect other people. In doing this, I hopefully discover when I have made a mistake before it is too late. One of the reasons that I gave so much detail about my own experience of learning how to hear from God was to point this out: I do not have the spiritual gift of prophecy! Those who have read my book Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow