Do You Know The Voice of God?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

-John 10:27 (King James Version)

It's no secret that there are many "voices" clamoring for our attention. Your family responsibilities, your work duties, the bills, the soccer practices, and I could go on and on. With so many "voices" sometimes it's hard to hear or discern the still small voice of God. 

Jesus said in John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me." The followers of Jesus know His voice, and they follow Him. Earlier in John 10, Jesus said, "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:5)." Sheep will not follow the voice of a stranger. They follow the voice of their shepherd. They know the voice of their shepherd. They know the shepherd will lead them and protect them. Our shepherd leads us and protects us as well. We must be able to discern the voice of our shepherd, and flee from the voice of the strangers. The problem is, we tend to run toward the voice of the strangers, and away from the voice of God. Why is that? 

In First Kings 19, we read about Elijah talking with God. Elijah feels that he is the only one left who follows God, like he is the lone prophet. We've all been there. Could it be that we're listening to the wrong voices when those thoughts come in? Look at what happens in First Kings 10:11-13, "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:  And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?" The voice of God wasn't where we'd expect it. It wasn't in the strong wind, it wasn't in the earthquake, it wasn't in the fire. It was after all those things, as still small voice amid the chaotic sounds of wind, earthquakes and fire. The problem comes when we listen to the chaos. It grabs our attention, and we miss the still, small voice. 

Friends, are you listening for the voice of God in your life? Or, are you allowing  other noises amid the chaos of our society drown out His voice. Are you listening for the voice of God? And then when you hear the still, small voice, are you following it? Think About It.