How Do You Know If You Are a Prophetess? 7 Signs of a Prophetic Call
As a prophet and spiritual mentor, one of the most common questions I receive is, “How do I know if I am called to be a prophetess?”
In a time when the prophetic ministry is both celebrated and misunderstood, many sincere believers are wrestling with a sense of divine calling and purpose. They may have experienced profound encounters with God, received revelatory dreams and visions, or felt a burning desire to communicate God’s heart to others.
If you are one of these individuals, wondering if God has set you apart for prophetic ministry, know that you are not alone. Throughout Scripture and church history, God has raised up both male and female prophetic voices to edify His people and advance His kingdom purposes.
In this article, I want to offer some biblical and practical guidance for discerning a prophetic call, specifically for women who may be sensing a commission as a prophetess. While not exhaustive, these seven signs can provide confirmation and clarity as you seek to understand God’s unique plan for your life and ministry.
How Do You Know If You Are a Prophetess? 7 Signs of a Prophetic Call
1. A Deep Intimacy with God
The foundational mark of a true prophetess is a vibrant, intimate relationship with God. More than any spiritual gifting or platform, a prophet’s greatest credential is their personal history with the Lord.
Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern in the lives of prophetic women. Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9) were all marked by a deep devotion to God and a lifestyle of prayer, worship, and communion with Him.
As a prophetess, your primary calling is not to speak for God, but to abide with Him. Your ministry will flow out of the overflow of your secret place encounters, as you learn to listen to His voice, discern His heart, and receive His revelatory downloads.
2. Confirmation Through Prophecy
Another common sign of a prophetic call is confirmation through other credible prophetic voices. As you step out in faith and begin to exercise your gifting, God will often use established prophets to affirm and encourage your calling.
This was the case with Timothy, whom Paul exhorted to wage the good warfare according to the prophecies previously made concerning him (1 Timothy 1:18). It was also true of the apostle Paul himself, whose calling was confirmed through the prophetic words of Ananias (Acts 9:17-18).
While prophetic confirmation alone should not be the basis for assuming a prophetic mantle, it can provide valuable affirmation and guidance, especially in the early stages of your development as a prophetess. Look for consistent, unsolicited words that bear witness with your spirit and align with the Scripture’s testimony about prophetic ministry.
3. Undeniable Prophetic Experiences
A clear indication of a prophetic calling is the presence of undeniable prophetic experiences in your life. These may include vivid dreams, visions, angelic encounters, or supernatural insights that you know are from the Holy Spirit.
For example, the prophetess Anna was a widow who never left the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day (Luke 2:36-37). Her sensitivity to the Spirit enabled her to recognize and prophesy over the infant Jesus, discerning His identity as the long-awaited Messiah.
As a prophetic woman, you may find yourself receiving detailed words of knowledge about people or situations, sensing spiritual atmospheres, or perceiving the heart motives behind external actions. These experiences, while not always dramatic, will bear the distinct fingerprints of the Holy Spirit’s revelatory activity in your life.
4. A Burning Desire to Edify the Church
Another hallmark of a prophetic call is a deep, abiding passion to build up and empower the body of Christ. True prophecy is not about personal ambition or platform, but about serving and equipping God’s people for works of ministry.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul emphasizes that the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort (v. 3). He also instructs that prophecy should be exercised in an orderly way for the edification of the church (v. 26, 40).
As a prophetess, your heart will burn with a desire to see believers matured, equipped, and released into their God-given destinies. You will feel a holy dissatisfaction with the status quo and a compelling burden to call the church to her full stature and purpose in Christ.
5. A Commitment to Spiritual Disciplines
Prophetic ministry is not just about exercising gifts, but about cultivating a lifestyle of spiritual discipline and character growth. As a prophetess, you will prioritize practices such as prayer, fasting, Bible study, and worship as non-negotiable rhythms for sustaining your prophetic flow.
In the Old Testament, we see the prophetess Huldah living in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, likely indicating a set-apart lifestyle of devotion to God (2 Kings 22:14). Similarly, Anna the prophetess was known for her fastings and prayers in the temple night and day (Luke 2:37).
As a prophetic woman, you will recognize that your authority and effectiveness in ministry are directly tied to your depth of character and intimacy with God. You will embrace spiritual disciplines not as a means of earning God’s favor, but as a way of positioning yourself to receive and release His prophetic revelation.
6. A Willingness to Embrace Rejection
One of the less glamorous but equally important signs of a prophetic call is a willingness to embrace rejection and misunderstanding for the sake of obedience to God. Throughout Scripture and church history, prophets have often been met with resistance, persecution, and even martyrdom for delivering unpopular or confrontational messages.
Jesus warned His disciples that they would be hated by all for His name’s sake (Matthew 10:22), and that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house (Matthew 13:57). The apostle Paul likewise affirmed that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
As a prophetess, you must be prepared to face opposition and criticism, even from within the church. You must be willing to speak the truth in love, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. You must learn to find your validation and security in God’s approval alone, not in the praises or opinions of people.
7. Ongoing Growth and Accountability
Finally, a true mark of a prophetic calling is a commitment to ongoing growth, learning, and accountability. No matter how gifted or experienced you may be, there is always room for greater wisdom, humility, and refinement in your prophetic expression.
The apostle Paul, though a powerful prophet and apostle, acknowledged that we all see in part and prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). He also emphasized the importance of submitting prophetic words to the discernment and judgment of other believers (1 Corinthians 14:29).
As a prophetess, you must cultivate a teachable spirit, regularly inviting feedback and correction from trusted spiritual leaders and mentors. You must be committed to growing in your biblical knowledge, theological grounding, and practical ministry skills. You must also be willing to submit your prophetic insights to the collective discernment of the body of Christ, recognizing that no individual prophet has the full picture or final say.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are a woman sensing a call to prophetic ministry, take heart. God is still speaking today, and He is looking for humble, faithful servants to be His mouthpieces in this generation.
As you prayerfully consider these seven signs of a prophetic call, remember that your identity and worth are not found in a title or gifting, but in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Pursue intimacy with Him above all else, and trust that as you surrender to His leading, He will make your calling clear and equip you for every good work.
Whether or not you bear the formal title of “prophetess,” you can be a powerful prophetic voice right where God has placed you – in your family, workplace, church, and community. As you learn to abide in the Vine and bear the fruit of the Spirit, you will release the fragrance of Christ and the power of His prophetic word to all those around you.
May God bless you as you step out in faith and obedience to His call. And may He use you mightily to build up His church, advance His kingdom, and bring glory to His name.
If you have been blessed by this teaching and desire to go deeper in your understanding of the prophetic, I invite you to check out some of my other resources:
- “How to Prophesy Accurately: 13 Keys to receive and release a prophetic word” is a practical handbook to help you grow in your prophetic gifting, full of biblical insight and personal stories from my decades of ministry.
- “Mind Fasting: Unlock Your Spiritual Vision and See Clearly in the Spirit Realm” explores the vital but often neglected role of spiritual disciplines like fasting in sharpening our spiritual senses and tuning our hearts to hear God’s voice more clearly.
- My Prophetic Masterclass, available at PropheticBibleSchool.com, offers in-depth video teachings, interactive exercises, and a vibrant online community to accelerate your growth as a prophet.
My prayer is that as you dive deep into the Scriptures, you will encounter afresh the beauty and power of God’s prophetic Word. May you hear His voice with greater clarity, walk in the fullness of your prophetic calling, and bear witness to the unfolding of His marvelous purposes in the earth.
Hungry for more of the prophetic? Visit PropheticBibleSchool.com to enroll in my Prophetic Masterclass today!
Gratefully yours,