To Hear His Voice

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”…..John 10:27

Whose voice do we listen to?  We are all influenced by many people and things in our culture.  It’s part of human nature.  What do we choose our influence to be though? Our friends, celebrities, keeping up with the latest fads or things of “value” in the world’s eyes?  When faced with decisions in our lives, there are many times that what we choose will lead us down two very different paths.  Sometimes the  decision will even be life altering to us or to others.  There was a phrase that was re birthed in the 90’s when Janie Tinklenberg, a youth leader in Michigan, challenged her teens to ask themselves, “What Would Jesus Do?” before all decisions they made.  Today we know the phrase better as “WWJD.”  It has become one of the most well- known Christian slogans, if you will, as tens of thousands of items are now sold bearing those initials.

Asking ourselves what Jesus would do is the first step in making decisions in our lives.  But the second piece, and perhaps the even greater one, is to then listen for His voice and follow where He leads.  Jesus’ words didn’t end with His sheep listening to Him.  He went on to say that He knew them and they followed Him.  If He is in our hearts, we will actually hear Him as He whispers that still small voice to our soul. But we must know Him to know what His voice sounds like.  And to know the Lord, it is essential that we spend time with Him and have His Word imprinted in our minds and in our hearts.  The more we know Christ, the closer we draw towards Him- and His voice will be known as an indescribable peace we feel deep within.

As our Shepherd, Jesus paid the ultimate price when He laid down His life for His sheep.  God didn’t write that as His conclusion though- praise Him for that!  He is alive at the right hand of the Father as He sits on the throne today.  He still remains our Shepherd and longs for each one of us to know Him and allow Him to lead us.  It is vital for sheep to listen for the Shepherd’s voice so that they will remain safe and away from the danger that lurks all around.  I am so amazed at how His voice has led me down some of the hardest and yet the most beautiful paths in my life.  I would most definitely be lost and injured without Him.  My prayer is for each of us to know Jesus and recognize His voice so that we can abide in His protection and live out the amazing plans He has in store for us!

With Love-   April

John 10:27-28

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 can snatch them out of my hand.