“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5
Have you ever heard the expression, “a lot of little things add up to a BIG thing?” Well, it’s true! Think about all the daily issues we have to deal with. It amazes me that, God knows all the details about all the issues that come at us moment by moment, and that He is there, speaking to us in every one of those instances, imparting wisdom, helping us navigate, helping us maintain the fruit of the Spirit, and encouraging us and edifying us!
You may think, ‘Wait a minute, why don’t I hear His Voice or sense His Guidance?’ Well, you’re probably trying to hear an audible voice. God is a Spirit, and, as such, He communicates with our spirit. Generally, He speaks by impressions, intuitions, dreams, and inner visions. He also gives us sudden realizations that enlighten us in some way. Other times, He’ll quicken a scripture to us or lead us by His peace.
Okay, back to little things adding up: let’s say you were expecting something that didn’t happen, or you got bad news about a good friend, or one morning you found your car battery was dead… the list goes on… but most of these are little things – and if we don’t deal with these little things at the moment, they’ll pile up with all the pressures and irritations that come along with them! Have you ever realized that it’s just as easy to hear the encouraging voice of the Lord as it is to listen to the voice of doubt and discouragement?
Ephesians 4:27 says, “Give No Place to the devil.” NO PLACE! His tactic is to take advantage of every negative thing! His tactic is to keep our eyes, our minds, our words, and our responses to life occupied with negativity until we see no way out! That’s why God tells us to give no place to the devil! NO PLACE AT ALL! When we let those little things pile up, we’re opening ourselves up to the voice of a stranger. We know the Voice of Jesus, and He always leads us to the green pastures of Truth and Grace, and still waters of Peace. Voices that lead elsewhere only come from a stranger. God has better things for us! So, take an inventory next time you feel frustrated and ask yourself, “Whose Voice are You Hearing?”
With Love,
Pastor Tom
Kingdom Business is Eternal, as are the rewards that come from God. If this ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us in prayer as the Lord leads you, or in financial support. Please visit our website at www.testamentoflove.org to learn more about this ministry! Luke 6:38