-Terri Fornear
People often ask me, “How do you hear God’s voice?” How do you know it’s not your own voice or your imagination or positive thinking?
I remember a time when “I got religion” after I met Jesus. I started looking “outside” myself to hear Him. I believed Jesus’ voice only came through church leaders or good, strong Christians. Only they could tell me what Jesus wanted for me which sounded a lot like:
- Keep the ten commandments
- Make sure you share Jesus with everyone you see
- Be nice, submit to authorities
- Be in community and be accountable
- Pray; be grateful; surrender etc.
Photo by zaghami – http://www.deviantart.com/art/The-Good-Shepherd-409811073
All these “things” aren’t bad, in fact when I listen to His Voice they often happen. But what fun is it to carry out a daily list of “good stuff”? It got burdensome and cold to me. Almost like being married with no intimacy – just roles to play. A couple playing roles can get through a day and the marriage, but there is no real life in it.
In John 10, Jesus gives a whole different way to do life. He says to start with what He does for us. He’s the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for me. Therefore only good comes from His voice. He desires to give HIS life to me to live through. He saves me daily. He wants me to hear His love, care, and no condemnation.
Jesus says we can hear His voice, and He tells us what HIS voice sounds like in Ezekiel 34 and what He does for us:
- Strengthens the weak
- Heals the sick
- Bounds up the injured
- Finds the straying one
- Searches for the lost
That’s God’s voice. Now it’s up to me to receive His love and stay in conscious contact with HIM. He is always with me and working for me to see and hear of His love.
The Liar comes to tell me God isn’t for me; is mad at me; expects a lot from me; He isn’t good and He is far from me. This is the daily, invisible battle. Jesus’ voice is the only way through enemy lines. His GOOD Shepherd voice brings life to every moment.
