i grew up A/G, so Kim, i knows what you mean about the church culture. i don't know what other people have experienced, but i only know of what i have experienced, whether other people "speaking over me" or me receiving a message from the Lord for myself.
i was always that kid who was called out from the congregation to have prayer over me because God was going to use me in great ways. i would even go to the restroom when ministers started calling people to the front to avoid it. lol. but one time, when i thought the minister had started praying for others, i stepped out of the restroom to go to my seat, but the minister caught me lolol. i went to the front and people prayed for me. after service, the minister was talking to my mom, and the person said, "melita is going to be a teacher." in my head, i said, "haaaaaaaaaaaa! nuh uh! i'm gonna be an accountant."
some years later, as i got closer to the Lord, all of a sudden, i wanted to teach sunday school. i signed up the following year, and i taught for several years to teenagers. i remembered what the minister told me and was like, "well hot dog." lol.
my parents always told me, "just because people say this or that, wait until the Lord tells you Himself."
i guess when i was younger, i was skeptical of people. not saying i'm not today lol. but i heard in a sermon once, "if someone prophecies over you, it should be something God had already been telling you, and that word will be a confirmation of it." *shrugs*
as for me having a word for someone else, i pray and pray and pray to make sure it's from the Lord and not my own emotions. usually, if not always, God provides an opportunity for me to share that word with the individual, and the Holy Spirit lets me know "it's time."
i know my examples are not related to relationships, but... i still wanted to share cuz i can! lolololol