The Vibes You FeelSample

The Unction: “Somethin’ Told Me”

I went to the hospital for an emergency surgery. I asked God, “Why is it all happening to me?” Tears were in my eyes.

I received a text message from a friend at that precise moment saying, “Hey. Just checking on you. I keep thinking of you. Something told me to text and say a prayer for you. You good?” I cried harder because this was a moment the Lord was assuring me he hadn’t forgotten me.

On another occasion, I was to attend a party. But everything under the sun seemed to happen that day, and something told me not to go. Later, I found out some of my friends had gotten into an accident, and other issues also occurred that night.

These incidences—and more like them—have made me think deeper about how the Holy Spirit works.

If you’re like me, there have been many times when you’ve been sitting in an audience, and the speaker said, “I didn’t plan on saying this, but the Holy Spirit is impressing this on my heart, and I’ve just gotta share it.” Typically, a preacher or someone teaching the Bible may use the phrase “unction of the Holy Spirit.” What they are expressing is a moment in their presentation when they are pressed to share something that they had not anticipated sharing, often a sudden burst of understanding or insight into the subject or Scripture verse they were teaching. The feeling is so heavy, or the thought repeated so often that it cannot be ignored or pushed away—it will not fade.

This same unction of the Holy Spirit can also happen to a Christian being prompted to do something (or not do something), say something, or go somewhere. It could be a strong urge to pray for something or someone in particular—right now! Countless stories have been told about being awakened in the middle of the night because a loved one or friend came to mind. The next day, that prayed-for person shares about a near-death experience, an accident, or something that happened that very hour. Maybe we’ve called some of these experiences our “female intuition” or a “gut

feeling” and as a result, have been casual about these moments. However, we can’t say God doesn’t talk to us. He has proven that by giving us direction or conviction in many ways. God sends us guidance and answers because He wants us to win and wants the best for us. But it may seem he doesn’t talk to us when we ignore his words.

When something is being taught, and the message becomes personal, the term “unction” is also used to describe that situation. People might say, “I felt like I was the only one in the room,” or “Pastor must have been reading my texts or listening in on my conversation.” What they mean is the person speaking seems to know exactly what to say, even when they don’t know what the listener is experiencing. That’s because our Father knows the specific need, prayer request, or situation. He ensures that the person in need is in the audience.

This is why a church family, or a pastor, is necessary. Sometimes certain people around us aren’t as connected with the Lord as we may need them to be for a season, but if we are also surrounded by spiritually enriched, faith-filled communities, they may have the answers we need. These folks can help sharpen the unction or confirm what we are feeling or hearing at times. The vibes must be right! The right vibe, and the right community, are essential for us to “become” and discover the mysteries we need to be aware of to thrive (see Colossians 1:26–27).