Hear the Right Voice

by Alex Thaxton

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." — John 10:27-28

"The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'" — 1 Kings 19:11-13

Groom: A rider at their first horse show can feel overwhelmed by the new sights and sounds: unfamiliar horses, loudspeakers, crowds, and the judge's scrutiny. These sensations can still feel intense, even at a rider's 100th show. In these moments, success depends on being able to hear the trainer’s voice through the noise, a skill developed through practice. In lessons, the trainer constantly offers guidance, and the rider must learn to listen, recognizing their coach's voice from across the arena. In the same way, as Christians, we need to learn to hear the Lord when He communicates with us. It may not be a literal, audible word; it might be a strong sense of direction or conviction. Whatever form God’s guidance takes, the key is to recognize His voice and choose to listen.

Tack: John 10:27-28, Romans 8:28, 1 Kings 19:11-13

Ride: Just as a rider must listen to their coach and distinguish their voice from all others, commit today to listening for God’s voice, resisting distractions.

Cool Down: Spend time thanking God for speaking to you. Recognize that His voice is always for your good and that His Word is always true. (Romans 8:28)