I often do get questions that are something like this.
How do I know if a prophetic word I get is actually God speaking to me?
Here are some pointers
There are many angles on this question and not a simple answer but I can give you many pointers to help you.
Often when you get a prophetic word from God your spirit comes alive in hope and love of God and you get thankful to the Lord for speaking to you.
Sometimes you may get general words that are very repetitive and do not contain any personal revelation to you. Those kinds of words you put on the shelf. Often these come from people practicing hearing God and starting in prophetic ministry. Sometimes this word may bring false hope and false promises they may tickle our ears but not in alignment with our spirit or what God is doing or saying.
Sometimes you can get a word that contains words of knowledge that you do not realize in the now as its for the future.. So it is always important to journal prophetic words. as reading over them later may bring new perspective.
Very often when God is really trying to get your attention through the prophetic ministry the word you get will contain information only you know. Something private that makes you go..”Only God” Only God could know this.