You see this phrase a lot in the Bible, "Son of Man, what do you see?" The Lord goes on to clarify what it is that HE (the Lord) sees so that the person will see it from the Lord's perspective. The fancy theological term for this process is "prophetic consciousness."

Last week I introduced what I hope to be a series of messages that I have entitled, "Living Prophetically in Turbulent Times." I don't think we need to be convinced that these are particularly turbulent times. From nature's fury to the barbarism of the terrorist, we see it every day. These are difficult days.

What I would like to do is to take a long look in the scriptures, so that we can learn how to live as people with this ability to see things as the Lord sees them. I don't know about you, but I have never been so aware that I need the Lord's perspective on every choice that I make. It's just too easy to launch out on our own and make decisions based on appearances or hunches.

Prophetic consciousness begins with an encounter in which we see the Lord. Now I know the idea of seeing God conjures up all sorts of spooky, mysterious things. I also know that the Bible says we can't see His face and live.

Still, a teenager named Isaiah was commissioned into a lifetime of prophetic ministry in an encounter about which he later wrote, "I saw the Lord, High and lifted up . . .." It was when Moses "turned aside to see why" the burning bush was not consumed that the Lord called out his name.

Now as never before, we need to know what it means to turn aside and see what the Lord is saying and what He is doing. I believe that it is our destiny to gain insights into His purposes we study His Word and as we are guided by His Holy Spirit. Let's expect to "See" something.