Just Listen
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
In my humble opinion, our dear Bobbie could have written this devotion, but she didn’t! Grace Fox, a contributing writer for Mornings with Jesus composed this message. When God speaks, what do you do with His words?
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Leading weekly zoom Bible studies has become part of my ministry. Midway through each, I begin asking Jesus to show me the topic of His choice for the next study. On one occasion, I felt impressed to write a curriculum about the names of God. I researched and wrote about five names, including Yahweh Shalom, which means “God of peace.” I delved into the New Testament to show how Jesus—the Prince of Peace—modeled peace and promised it as a gift to believers.
Immediately the following week after we studied Yahweh Shalom, one participant’s husband lost his job. Another’s daughter-in-law died unexpectedly and left five children motherless. A third experienced intense stress at work. It was obvious to all that Jesus orchestrated the timing of this lesson to help those women in their particular seasons. They shared that His personal care made them feel loved and brought hope into their pain and uncertainty.
I’m amazed at Jesus’s perfect timing. I also marvel at how He communicated so clearly through a simple impression on my spirit. I’ll confess that I’ve sometimes made finding His will more complicated than need be. There’s no secret or magic formula. It’s a matter of listening for and recognizing His voice. He might speak to me through a sermon, podcast, song, or poem. He always speaks to me through His Word and often through an impression in my thoughts. Because of His grace toward us, He communicates to me in a way that I can hear and understand. I needn’t second-guess. I just need to follow.
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Throughout history, our Savior has impressed many a message on the hearts of His followers. As a faith step, spend five minutes in silence with no agenda other than to listen for His voice. What is He telling you?
Loving Lord, thank You for all the ways You speak to us. Help us to listen for Your voice every day and in every way and then to follow You. AMEN.