Voices


Joh 10:27  My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 

Joh 10:28  I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the 

	Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. 

Joh 10:29  The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the 

	Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. w



	There is this incredibly important information that you need to get from 

the conversation you're having. Decisions will have to be made based upon this 

information that will determine whether or not you will be able to obtain all 

the wonderful things that have been described. You are getting inside direction 

from someone you know very well and someone upon whom you can place great trust. 

They have proven themselves to be a loyal and faithful friend through some of 

the most difficult times, and there is great confidence placed in them and the 

words they are about to speak. 


	Everything should be fine in the critical communication of their words 

except for one thing- you are in a crowded room of friends and family that are 

having rather loud conversations of their own. Just as something is about to be 

heard from the trusted friend, there is an outburst from one of the others that 

completely overpowers his voice. Some of the outbursts are just enjoyable 

interchange with jokes and stories being told that inspire a dramatic response. 

Other eruptions might just be the legitimate interruption of a son or daughter 

who is requiring special attention, or a friend just wanting to interject their 

own opinion, thoughts or suggestions. There seems to be no end to the 

frustration of the moment as, just when there is a lull and you are about to 

hear what you've waited to hear, another voice completely dominates and keeps 

you from understanding a single word from your friend. Finally, you can take no 

more, and you excuse yourself from the crowded room to lock yourself in another 

room or go outside where this most important conversation can take place without 

the constant interruption of other voices. Free from the dominance of all those 

other familiar voices, you are now able to hear the one voice that will help you 

make the right choices and go the right direction. 


	Sometimes it may not be that God isn't speaking to us and it may not be 

that we don't recognize or know how to follow His leading. It's just that we're 

in a place where there are so many other voices going on that overwhelm our 

ability to hear and follow the One who knows and wants to instruct us in 

everything we do and in every step we take. Though these other voices may be 

familiar and legitimate in their instructional and entertainment value, they are 

nevertheless prohibiting us from hearing the voice of our Shepherd. There is a 

desperate need to somehow get out of the distracting room that surrounds us and 

find a place of isolation, where the only voice heard will be that of our 

trusted Friend. 


	Finding this place where our Friend can speak freely and we can hear 

without interruption is so critical in our ability to understand and follow His 

words of instruction and direction. For us, many times it may not be so much the 

actual audible interruptions that prohibit our hearing, but just the internal 

replaying of thoughts or suggestions in an endless repeat mode. Our necessity 

may not just be a change of physical location as much as it is a change of 

mental and spiritual location. Finding and entering this place of internal 

solitude and peace will make it possible for that wonderful voice of our loving 

Father to speak and be heard without interruption. We'll be able to experience 

the care His words provide for, and make decisions that will prepare us to 

withstand any attack of the destroyer and the thief. Locking the door that shuts 

out the other familiar voices of distraction, we'll be able to enter into the 

peaceful place where His smallest whisper is heard and His slightest suggestion 

understood. 




When the other sounds are so distracting 

And Your words of life are so muffled and distant,

Take my hand, o Lord, and lead me to that quiet place with You;

That place where it is Your voice alone that I hear

And that place where your will is made very clear.

I will go then as Your words direct me and be found complete.

I will follow them as they direct me 

And never want for the protection and care 

Your words provide for my life. 

Safe in Your loving hand I'll remain forever,

Listening always for your smallest whisper. 


6/4/04