We hear: “You can’t do it! You are all alone and there is none to help. You Fool, you Fool! If you were going the right way, the way would not be so steep, so sharp; so very, very hard.”
Our God says: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:4-6
“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Luke 5:4b
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds…and took care of him….Go, and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:33-37
“…Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20b
These verses remind me of a quote, “God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.” Are you living under the false impression that your life is supposed to be easy? Better check out whose voice you’re listening to.
In our earthly trials, in all our opportunities to increase our faith and trust Him more, let us strive to listen to the voice of our Captain. His voice rings clearly, steadily, confidently, attentively, and vigilantly. The Enemy shouts from the pit of his villainous stronghold; shouting, ever shouting and clamoring, enticing our doubts and fears to stay and hear his blasphemous strains.
“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24) Why must I struggle so to hear the voice of my Beloved? The song continually flows from His heavenly throne, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
With my will I fix my heart on Him. I hear Him now! It is my Captain’s voice that I hear! He has emblazoned His word on my heart: “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” (Deut. 7:9)
Many and confusing are the words straining to reach my ears from the enemies’ camp. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12) Our ears can and should be tuned to His voice. It is our choice alone to give our attention to what we will hear. Please remember, dear Christian, these ears are not your own. These ears are a gateway to your soul; God knows it and so does the devil.
We surround ourselves with many voices, in the way of those that are audible and those that have penetrated our thinking through literature and other influences around us; whose ideology swirls about in our heads mingling one with another. Our ears should be tuned to God andHis voice. We can hear Him through His Word and through His creation. It’s our choice to listen. What a mistake, what a delusion that occurs when we inundate ourselves with falsehood, lies, skeptics’ doubting, and scoffers’ mocking! When our thoughts are filled with Him, His glory, majesty and wondrous works, our hearts are affected and our lips bring forth praise unto His Wonderful Name. There is a peace that attends our way because of the knowledge of Him dwelling in our hearts and minds.
Listening to the wrong voice leads our minds, hearts, and our very souls away from the Truth, and therefore, away from Him. In the midst of this noisy life, seek the Truth. “If thou seekest her (wisdom) as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” (Prov. 2:4-5) Seek out the still small voice, it doesn’t need to shout. Truth is truth and it will stand and remain long after the lies have been taught, bought and believed. “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” (Deut. 4:39)
As we purpose in our hearts to tune our ears to that which is good, (Phil. 4:8), we will soon find grace and mercy ringing in our ears! Let us march to the tune of His love, to the tune of praising His Name; to the same tune as all of creation. Oh, God, lift us above our problems as music lifts the spirit. Let us see the grandness of You and of Your ways. May we ever be enraptured with the strains and harmonies of love, mercy and justice. Let us fill our ears and hence our spirit with Your voice, Your truth, Your love and Your hope. And then, and only then, will our spirits find their rest.
Feasting on that which is wholesome will bring health and vitality to your spirit and your body. Indulging and gorging yourself with empty calories and harmful food products will likewise affect your spirit and body…for the worse. That which passes through the eye-gate and the ear-gate head straight for our spirits for processing and digesting. Help yourself along on this Christian walk and be a Gate Keeper, protecting yourself from satan’s influences that are set only on your destruction. Examine your reading material and that of your children’s. Who is it that is speaking to you and to them? Is the still, quiet voice of God able to be heard in your home? What about in your mind? That’s great to go on a physical diet! I commend you for wanting to take care of that beautiful temple of the Holy Spirit. Now, how about going on a spiritual diet? The beginning of a diet is always the roughest part, but just give yourself a couple of weeks to settle into the new habits. Oh, how blessed you will be for it!
Visit our church library today and see the many and varied selections we have for your spirit to feed on!
“To have sweet sleep we must have sweet lives, sweet tempers, sweet meditations, and sweet love.” Spurgeon
As seasons of life change, Elizabeth happily remains desperately dependent upon her God. Three of her four children have now branched off to begin their own families. She is a homeschooling veteran and a faithful wife for over 30 years.
Read Elizabeth’s salvation testimony here and her articles here.