Listen, But Don't Be Silenced

Our world has been going through so many changes lately. Though most of you might agree that we’d be better off without them, they really do cause us to get to the heart of things and stir up areas we might never know are a problem.

In our home, we’ve greatly limited what is watched on TV, what books are read, what is allowed on digital devices and the like and what friends or family we allow to influence us. We are doing this even more so now than we have in the past. You see, we’ve prayed over and over to hear His voice. We want to know for sure we are following Him and not simply following the latest news headline, trend, author, or person we admire. We want to follow Him.

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

Too often we get caught up in the ways of the world and we begin to follow its voices instead of our Father’s voice.

Lately, when Jim and I have been on the road, we’ve noticed some things. There are a couple of splits on our roadways where there is always traffic idling, bumper-to-bumper, in the far right lane while the left lane is moving fast. What we’ve noticed is there is no one in the center lane! That center lane goes to both sides of the split yet hardly anyone goes that way. Those drivers simply follow the car in front of them instead of evaluating their surroundings. They just follow a leader not knowing that faster moving freedom is just a few feet away in the center lane.

This one incident happening over and over has prompted many conversations between us. In this day and age we have too many people telling us what to think instead of how to think. We blindly follow people we admire or trust because it’s easier than figuring it out ourselves. This is dangerous.

Be careful what you are believing from the pulpit. Be careful what you are “liking” on social media. Be careful which leaders you support. Whether they are a good friend or not, It doesn’t matter. People are human. We make mistakes. We go through seasons in life, good and bad. When others blindly follow us in our mistakes, it can have eternal consequences. At the end of this lifetime we will have to account for every sheep that chose to follow us, so we need to make sure we are leading them to Him. It would also serve our Father well to drop to our knees in prayer for those we perceive to be making mistakes. They are dearly loved by Him too. We are to walk in and serve one another in love.

…but don’t be silenced.

Don’t hesitate to stand up for what you believe in. Don’t be bullied into being quiet. The world will tell you your voice is just a whisper and it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Maybe they're right. In this world your voice may not be heard but I promise you that someone is listening to the cries of your heart. Your Father hears your every word. Don’t just throw your hands up and surrender to this world because we are the minority. When we get to heaven, where it really matters, we will be the majority.

When Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the desert, He spoke truth to combat the enemy. He didn’t remain quiet. When those money changers were making a den of robbers out of the temple, Jesus did not just walk past and say, "Oh well, that is just how it is in this day and age." When the pharisees attempted to prove Him wrong, He used His Father’s Word to speak truth to them. He walked in love, but He did not do nothing. And His Father, Our Father, was pleased (Mark 1:11).

RESPOND:

Lord, thank You for leading me to the center of Your will. Help me to listen to You and hear Your commands in everything that comes my way, as I follow You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Woman's Walk With God

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REFLECT:

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13

REMEMBER:

Seek Him. Think for yourself. Don’t be quiet. Walk in love. Listen to His voice!