“My sheep hear my voice” (Jn.5:27); and “if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we’ll fellowship and feast together.” (Rev.3:20)
“The Holy Spirit will teach you more about me and remind you of the things I, Jesus, have said.” (Jn.14:26)
“The Holy Spirit constantly is telling us we are God’s beloved children and co-heirs with Jesus of everything.” (Rm.8:16-17)
Lord Jesus, most of my life I’ve assumed the phrase, “I’m hearing voices,” to indicate mental or emotional instability, or at least a whole week without good deep sleep. It certainly can be, but much more so it’s an indication of being six feet above ground with a beating heart and working lungs. For we all hear voices. The key to a healthy life is to identify the voices vying for our attention and give heed to the right ones. Help us, Lord.
For many of us, the main voice we hear is our own—a non-stop monologue with ourselves. Quite often it’s marked by comparisons, judgments, and shame. Others among us continue to be narrated by the voice of parents, coaches, teachers—living or dead, both good and super bad. A smaller but substantive number of us listen to the father of lies way too much.
Loving Jesus, may your voice be the nearest, clearest, dearest to us. We want to learn, marinate in, and be transformed by everything our Father and the Holy Spirit want to show us about you. Fine tune our hearts to hear you speaking directly to us through the Scriptures, creation, your Spirit, and our Gospel-friends.
May your voice transcend and drown out every carpetbagger, condemner, liar, and lie—ever naysayer, seducer, and destroyer. Only you speak words of eternal life, and you never stop talking to us, Jesus. Thank you, and So Very Amen.