The Three Voices

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Sometimes I get confused.

With so many voices circling around me, giving me advice to do this and that… I can find myself at a crossroads with what to do next.

You, too?

From the day we were born, a battle has raged for our hearts and minds.  As Christ-followers, we need Divine discernment to know which voice to follow.  We need to learn to tell them apart.

But that’s not always easy.

There are times the voices sound the same.  They offer similar suggestions.  They seem harmless and the advice, conceivable.

We need to know the difference.

There’s the world’s voice…

It says that we need to watch out for “us” and that we should make decisions based on that mind-set of self-protection.  When we do step out of that way of thinking to help others, it shouldn’t take too much of us, our resources or our time.

This voice assures us that we need to be working harder to be better.  It tells us we’ll be loved when we get measurable results.  The problem being that once those results are reached, the bar is raised again.

What we hear is that we’ll never be good enough, smart enough, produce enough, or have enough.

It is not the voice we should be listening to.

Then there’s the voice of other Christians…

Usually with the motive to be helpful or encouraging, this voice tells us how we should be praying.  It tells us how we need to connect with God in a certain way.

This voice can sound accusatory by letting us know we’re worshiping at the wrong church or under an inferior denomination.

It tells us we’re so close to “getting it”… but it’s just out of reach.

Hear my heart on this one.  We were built for community, so Godly friends and mentors coming along side us is God-ordained.  They can be helpful in directing us on the right path.  They can speak out of experience, improving our understanding of a situation we’re walking through.

Even with the best intentions, however, this voice can tells us it’s more about works… than faith.

Respectfully ignore that suggestion.

But there’s also God’s voice…

He tells us that we are enough.  His still small voice reminds us that we are significant, accepted and valuable.

God’s instructions aren’t hard to understand. They don’t complicate the situation by telling us we are loved more or less based on our performance.

He doesn’t tell us we’re good enough if… when… or, but.  God tells us we are good enough… perfect in His eyes, actually… because of Jesus.

His voice may come through a verse, a sermon, a song, a sunset, an ah-ha moment, a gut feeling.  It will stand out or make you take notice.

Our job is to listen for our shepherd’s voice and follow it.

His voice breathes life into our thirsty spirits.

Friends, pay attention to God’s voice… because He is speaking to you all the time.  Your life will make more sense when you train your ear to differentiate between the voices of the world, the voices of other Christians and the voice of your Heavenly Father.

“This is the way; walk in it.”

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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