By Samantha
Voices in the desert
It can be a voice, a whisper, a sense or an attitude......
1) Voices around us - culture, society
This is a fickle voice, easily swayed by popularity
The same crowd that shouted "hosanna" when he was entering the city on the donkey are the same crowd that shouted "crucify him"
Noah was mocked
Don't use this voice to establish who you are as we will be conflicted
Surround yourself with people who are able to encourage us and speak the truth no matter how painful it may be, people who have our best interests at heart, reflecting the voice of Jesus.
2) Voices within us
Sometimes this voice is very negative and this plants seeds of doubt unworthiness and inadequacy. Fears and our own understanding of reality.
Moses' own voice planted a seed of doubt within him when he was called by Jesus and yet he was witnessing a miracle of a burning bush......see how powerful our negative voices can be! God doesn't make mistakes and we are better off listening to God than the voices inside our head.
Peter walked on water yet when he stopped listening to Jesus and listened to the voices in his head he started sinking.
3) The voice of deception
Satan is actively trying to influence my thoughts and beliefs just enough for me to doubt myself and the truth of God.
In the garden of Eden satan challenged their interpretation of what God said! See, a small seed of doubt was planted and they convinced themselves that maybe God didn't really say that and now see, our relationship with God was forever changed by that one action.
When we are in the desert we are most vulnerable to this deception and we need to hold fast onto the word of The Lord.
C.S. Lewis said:
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
4) The voice of truth / God
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17 NIV)
John thought Jesus was wrong because he knew who Jesus was and at that point that could have been a stumbling block for him but he stuck to the truth and John consented and baptized him. Jesus then heard his fathers voice and he recognized it as the voice of truth.
Song by Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!
"You'll never win"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Sent from my iPad
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