Following Well: Getting Better in Our Walk With ChristSample

Know His Voice

One of the joys of any loving parent is to hear the first words of their children. It is an exhilarating experience that reminds us how quickly kids grow. As a Father, I know how excited I was to hear our little ones call me "Daddy," although my wife and I couldn't quite agree on whose name our children called first. As exciting as it was to hear our children call us by name, it was much more when I realized that our two-and-a-half-year-old son could also recognize our voices outside the bedroom door. 

Research on voice recognition in babies shows that babies as little as 7-month-olds can recognize and distinguish voices, especially their mothers. There is a level of intimate familiarity between babies, parents, close family members, and caregivers that allows for this to occur. 

In today's data-driven world fueled by the many "voices" of individuals, coaches, events, social media, etc., there is a tendency to be a little confused about the authenticity of the voices we hear today.  Voices camouflaging as God's voice may sometimes cloud our hearing causing us to question the validity of God's instructions to us. Jesus encouraged his disciples in the story in today's reading from John 10 to stay close to the Shepherd, which builds intimacy and familiarity. In essence, when we spend time with God, we get familiar with His way of communicating with us. 

Following well occurs when we know God's voice and follow His lead according to the text we read in John. God speaks to us today in many ways, and the extent to which we recognize His voice determines how we follow His leadership. To know God intimately is to understand the way God speaks to you, which may be through the passions, desires, and dreams placed in our hearts, which sometimes seem like they never leave us alone. 

No matter how God speaks to you, we must not only hear His voice but act on it so we can heed his call and follow.

Prayer

Lord, help me to hear and recognize your voice consistently. Lord, may I distinguish between the false voices clamoring for my attention and your voice. Lord, please help me grow in intimacy with you to know when and how you call me. Lord, open the eyes of my understanding that I may follow you better in Jesus' name.