“Think before you speak!” Parents try to teach this to their children. But when addressing hostile people about your faith in Jesus or prophesying, the key is not to think before you speak but to speak BEFORE you think.
Jesus taught his disciples that when witnessing to him when brought before magistrates, they should trust that it would not be them that would speak but the Spirit of their Father that would speak through them (Matthew 10:20). Words of logic and reason are necessary when people need to be convinced in their minds, but spontaneous words spoken from the spirit in the Holy Spirit can bring heartfelt conviction.
I have written many times about how necessary it is for us to “cross the line” by moving from knowledge to revelation. Doing this is an act of faith because nothing less than God given faith will enable us to cross this line.
Peter crossed it by revelation, when in response to a direct question from the Lord, he confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. He spoke with revelation knowledge. Testifying to those who hate your Lord, and you as a follower of Jesus Christ, might one day find you having to do the same.
Presumption can cross some boundaries but it can never cross this one. Timidity will approach the line but not dare to cross it. Many confess to their pastor after a meeting, “Words came to my mind, but I didn’t voice them because I thought they were just my own thoughts.” More likely God had prompted a prophetic message that someone — maybe everyone — needed to hear, but doubt had cancelled them out.
There’s nothing chancy as to how God’s thoughts in our minds can become His words in our mouths — unless we allow doubt to make that so. If you can prophesy you can testify; and if you can testify you can prophesy. Preparing yourself is not a matter of rehearsal but of ‘crossing the line’ between knowledge and revelation.
Doing this generally is a matter of mind renewal (Ephesians 4:23). But doing it spontaneously is the result of opening your mouth and speaking words inspired by God and ready to be spoken through you.
So, the next time words of encouragement for someone come to your mind and persist, trust God by putting them into words. Each time you do, you will speak more fluently. On occasion, you will deliver them impromptu — without conscious forethought or careful consideration.
Those hearing you and who know that you do not know their problem, their situation or their circumstance will likely turn to the Lord for help. What you were told not to do in childhood is what you can and should do in spiritual maturity, which is to speak before you think!