How we speak truth is just as important as the truth itself. One of my spiritual mentors use to say “Speaking truth without love is like trying to give a kiss with bad breath. Nobody wants it.” It’s important that we love the people we speak to more than hearing ourselves speak. We have to love the people we minister to more than the ministry itself!

I gathered these thoughts in a cloud of righteous indignation. Someone on my Facebook feed had released a prophetic word that actually made me angry:

If your public revelation or word or exhortation excludes the ability for the poor, single moms, or people of other nations and cultures to actually participate-then it is probably more a religious man-made standard than an edifying or lifting up of the entire Body. Don’t make personal convictions or callings a Law of the Lord.
If your word brings guilt and shame for those who can not live up to what you are “challenging”, then it’s probably a man-made standard that eliminates the dependency on God’s mercy and puts heavy weight on human ambition.
If your word comes from a place of judgement, bitterness, fear, or resentment-then it will tear down rather than build up. Prophecy is for building up-that doesn’t always mean what you say is flattering all the time, but it does mean to be careful of who this word is landing on. Sometimes we are so eager to give a word that we forget who is listening-and forget to ask God who our audience is.
If your word doesn’t speak like a Father who gave up his Son for sinful people, then re-evaluate the delivery.
If your word doesn’t speak like the Holy Spirit who is eager to guide and counsel with love, patience, and kindness, then re-evaluate your tone.
If your word doesn’t speak like a Savior who is sacrificial for those he loves, then re-evaluate whether you are washing the feet of your disciples or judging them like a Pharisee.

Don’t underestimate the power of your voice, and carry the gifts God gave you with a holistic view of His character and the Word. Tunnel vision always hurts people.

We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. -1Thesselonians 5:14 TPT