There are lots of voices that we hear every day….so many voices! Voices that try to tell us who we are, for better or for worse. Voices that encourage us, voices that discourage us. Voices that build us up, voices that tear us down. Voices that steal our joy, voices that give life. Who are you listening to? What voices are you going to allow to penetrate your very soul? My advice…..listen to your Father.
Several years back, I was working on an assignment for a women’s Bible Study and the question I needed to answer was: “How does God see me?” I had completed the assignment and answered all the other questions…..except for that one. And that one question had me stumped! I didn’t really know how God saw me, not personally. I knew what the Bible said….but what about me, specifically ME?
The lesson included instructions on presenting our questions to God and then waiting on an answer. Being still and just listening. Making our request clear and then simply waiting and listening for an answer….trusting that God wants to answer us. This practice wasn’t new to me, but it also wasn’t a common practice for me because, truthfully, I’m a doer. And since waiting and listening seemed too much like doing nothing, I was more inclined to operate based on what I thought, or assumed, God would say to me.
Well, I heard voices all right. There were whispers and rumors about me…..about who I was and who I was not. Who did “I” think I was? I wasn’t anybody. I certainly wasn’t doing enough for God, that’s for sure. I called myself a child of God but it was likely that my Father was mad with me, frustrated with me, and/or disappointed in me. I still needed so much work. Seriously, who did “I” think I was? The voices rambled on and on, and based on what I'd heard from the voices, the answer to my question didn’t sound too good.
But, rather than listen to all of that, I decided to do what the instructions in the study guide encouraged me to do. So I asked God directly, “God, I really don’t know how you see me. Please let me know how YOU see ME." And then I waited……
Two days later, I was standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes. There’s a window at the sink so as I do one of my least favorite chores (dishes!), I can at least look out the window and watch what’s going on in nature. It was still winter so all the bushes and trees were brown and dead. But perched on a bush just below the house was a bright red cardinal that stuck out like a red Christmas ornament. I stood there, watching, and said out loud to no one, “Well, look at you down there looking so beautiful!” And just like that, I heard God saying those same words to me. It was as if He was in the kitchen with me. And in that instant, I knew God had answered my question. Not only had He heard me, but He saw me, and He wanted me to know that all those voices I’d heard were wrong, because He thought I was beautiful.
God knows my heart. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b). And in spite of all my shortcomings that the voices told me about, I can be confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). And even though the voices wanted me to doubt it, my Father lavishes me with His great love and calls me His child, and that is what I am (1 John 3:1)!
So be careful who you listen to, because there’s really only one voice that matters. His voice will encourage, not discourage. He will build you up, not tear you down. He will give you joy and He will give you life. Let His voice penetrate to your very soul. Take the advice from someone who’s learned from experience….listen to your Father.
Recent Posts