08
Jun '21
Do You Know The Voice of Your Shepherd?
08
Jun '21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
Hearing God’s voice is something He meant for all of us to have.
It’s not only a select few who are labeled “spiritually elite”.
God is not a respecter of persons, which means every single one of us has the ability to hear from Him.
Ever since the crucifixion, the veil between humanity and God has been torn open, granting us access into the Holy of Holies and an intimate relationship with Him!
When one of your close friends or family members calls your name from across the house or calls you on the phone, you know it is them by the distinct sound of their voice.
This is the same with the Lord. Our sensitivity to His voice depends on how strong our relationship with Him is.
When we truly yearn for God’s direction, His will is naturally revealed to us. It all starts with being able to recognize His voice!
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
Back in Jesus’ day, sheep belonging to different flocks would sometimes spend the night together in the same fold.
Once morning arrived, the shepherds would come out and call their sheep.
While all the sheep would hear the call of each shepherd, they only came to the one they knew and recognized as their personal shepherd.
As Christians, we are the Lord’s sheep, and He is our protective shepherd.
Do you know the voice of your shepherd?
Many voices will try to call out to you in life cajoling you to follow the ways of the world, but only one voice belongs to your loving shepherd… Jesus.
As you go through today, know that He always takes delight in speaking to you. Stay close to Him, and listen with your heart for His love call!
26
Sep '19
Hearing God’s Invitation
26
Sep '19
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
I have to admit, I rush and miss God’s invitations a lot. I walked by a woman at church the other day. A quick stirring in my heart said, Go say hi. I brushed it off.
When I saw a discarded cup in the parking lot of the restaurant where I had lunch, I knew I was supposed to pick it up and throw it away. I walked right by it.
These were simple acts of obedience I missed. But they weren’t missed because I was unaware. They were missed because I was busy — caught in the rush of endless demands. And the rush makes us rebellious. I knew what to do and blatantly ignored it.
Ignoring God’s leading doesn’t seem like such a big deal in these cases. In the grand scheme of the world, how big a thing is it that I didn’t pick up that cup? After all, how can I be sure it was really God?
A better question would be, How can I be sure it wasn’t God?
As God’s child, we long for unbroken companionship with Him. The cup was insignificant unless it was me breaking away from obeying His instruction. The one who obeys God’s instruction for today will develop a keen awareness of His direction for tomorrow. I’m always asking God for direction, but I’ll miss it if I constantly ignore His instruction.
It’s in those little breaks in our companionship with God where confusion sets in about what we’re really supposed to do.
Have you ever heard that amazing verse from Isaiah which says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (30:21)?
I love this verse! I want it to be true for me! With every fiber of my being, I want to hear God say, “This is the way; walk in it.”
When I humbly repented for rushing past the opportunities God had given me, He graciously gave me a do-over. Remembering the woman I hurried by at church, I felt a stirring to track her down through a mutual friend and send a simple email. Just a small note. Which I sent. For no other reason than God saying, “This touch is one of your assignments for today. Don’t miss it.”
That email paved the road for me to have coffee with this woman. During that meeting, God gave me an answer to something I’d been begging Him to address. I thought I was going to help her, yet I was the one helped. Obeying God’s instruction led to me being able to discern His direction. I needed that coffee meeting, and it never would have happened had I not stopped the rush of my life and emailed the woman after God’s prompting.
That little act of obedience somehow unplugged my spiritual ears. Not that we can’t hear God otherwise. But hearing Him clearly? I think that might require my soul to acknowledge what all my rushing causes me to miss.
Yes, if we want His direction for our decisions, the great longings of our souls must not only be the big moments of assignment. They must also be the seemingly small instructions in the most ordinary moments when God points His finger, saying, Go there. And in doing that, we are companions of God with eyes and ears more open, more able, more in tune with Him.
Dear Lord, I confess that I do walk right past Your invitations from time to time. Please forgive me for those times when I have rushed right on by. Help me to stop and follow You. I’m listening. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
This devotion blessed me today. I believe we all struggle with this very thing from time to time, we rush and miss God’s invitation, but God. He is patient, loving and shows us grace. He gives us opportunities to do things differently. Remember this today, the one who obeys God’s instruction for today will develop a keen awareness of His direction for tomorrow.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Hebrews 10:30-31
11
Jun '19
When You Have a Choice to Make
11
Jun '19
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
According to recent statistics, I made 5,000 decisions today. Seriously?
Well, I made a decision to get out of bed. I made a choice to put on my tennis shoes and run at 6 a.m.
I chose peanut butter Cheerios over oatmeal. I decided which bills to pay. What to make for dinner. Whether to answer a phone call. Which clothes to wear. Whether the plants needed watering or if they could wait another day. I chose to fill up the small car instead of the gas-guzzler.
I may have made more than 5,000 decisions today!
Some of our everyday choices are random, others weighty, but many of our decisions are choice points. Choice points are seemingly insignificant decisions yet they lead us in one direction or another.
I choose whether to react in anger, or respond with understanding to my husband.
I choose whether or not to create drama with a friend who hurt my feelings.
I choose time with my Heavenly Father, or push that time to another day … again.
I choose whether or not to say those words that cause my child pain.
Recently I was on a mission trip and the team was exhausted after nearly six days of intense travel. We had missed a train and stood on the platform in the moonlight. It was nearing midnight and cold and wet. Our next ministry event was early in the morning.
The coordinator walked over. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean for it to work out this way.”
There I stood with a choice to make.
I could share my frustration. I could explain that my sleep tank was on empty. I could say nothing, while sighing with a martyred expression. Or I could choose to override my fatigued irritation and be gracious.
As she waited for my reply, a gentle voice softly spoke to my heart: “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
I knew it was definitely the leading of the Holy Spirit, just as Scripture promised. Yes, I was exhausted, but I reminded myself what a privilege it was to be there. Ease and comfort were not readily available to Jesus, and losing a little sleep was nothing in comparison to anything He went through. The Holy Spirit nudged me to recognize that everyone around me was just as tired as I was. He led me in the way to respond.
“I’m fine,” I said. “In fact it’s been an amazing day and I can’t wait to see what God does tomorrow.”
She grabbed me and pulled me in a huge hug. “Thank you, Suz.”
I wish I could say I handle every choice I have to make that way, but sometimes I fail and gripe, nit-pick, am critical and grouchy. It’s my prayer that I’ll remember how much my choices matter. You see, they don’t just affect me; they affect those within the vicinity of my decisions.
In the 5,000 decisions you make today, take a moment to pause before deciding. Ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and counsel. And choose to follow as He leads the way.
Dear Lord, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all my choices, and it makes me cranky. Today as I make my 5000 decisions, walk with me, remind me of how my choices affect others and help me follow Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
When I woke this morning I was greeted with Psalm 46:10, today’s reading, then as I was praying and searching for a devotion to share today The Lord dropped this devotion in my path. What a beautiful devotion, full of truth. I pray it encourages you today, in the moments when you feel overwhelmed and maybe even a little cranky to be still and look to The the Holy Spirit for guidance and council and allow Him to lead the way. Remember, your choices affect others. What choices will you choose to make today? Wow! I needed this today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 46:10
18
Oct '18
Walking God’s Way
18
Oct '18
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
“We’re going this way,” I said as I touched my son’s shoulder and redirected him through the crowd to follow his mom and sisters in front of us. I’d done this more often as the day wore on at the amusement park our family was visiting. He was getting tired and more easily distracted. Why can’t he just follow them? I wondered.
Then it hit me: How often do I do exactly the same thing? How often do I veer from obediently walking with God, enchanted by the temptations to pursue what I want instead of seeking His ways?
Think of Isaiah’s words from God for Israel: “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). Earlier in that chapter, God had rebuked His people for their rebelliousness. But if they would trust His strength instead of their own ways (v. 15), He promised to show His graciousness and compassion (v. 18).
One expression of God’s graciousness is His promise to guide us by His Spirit. That happens as we talk to Him about our desires and ask in prayer what He has for us. I’m thankful God patiently directs us, day-by-day, step-by-step, as we trust Him and listen for His voice.
Father, You’ve promised to guide us through the ups and downs and decisions we face in life. Help us to trust and follow You, and to actively listen for Your guiding voice. Amen.
As I was preparing to post a devotion for today I thought I had what I wanted to post but I quickly realized it wasn’t what God intended for today. I deleted what I had planned to post and went back to the drawing board, aka His word and I chose to be still and wait for His guidance and within moments He directed me to this devotion. It couldn’t have been more appropriate for what I needed to hear today and my prayer is this devotion touches someone in such a way that they find peace in there situation. Trust Him today, be still and listen for His voice and remember Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 119:11