Faith along the way

Who do I listen to? This is a question that has been circling around my mind and in my spirit the past few weeks. I have felt the Holy Spirit telling me “Listen to My voice” over and over. “Lisen to My voice.” As I wrestle with things, wait for situations or issues to be settled, hurts to heal, wrongs to be made right, or am in a state of angst regarding something, the mental anguish is what gets to me: the “what if?”, the “how did this happen?” or “how DARE they?”, the mental calisthenics that constantly tumble through your brain, or how about the constant scenarios you make up if this happens, if that is said, if they even think about doing (insert whatever)-most of which would never happen…anybody know what I’m talking about? Exhausting. Futile. Of no help whatsoever. So, who do I listen to?

Our days are filled to overflowing with so many voices, just to list a few:

• People: Some mean well; some do not. Some know what they are talking about, some do not.
• Social media: Sometimes “oh wow!” is all I can say to that…especially the comments on a post. Ouch, people can be rude, and everyone has an opinion. Also, everyone’s life seems “picture perfect” on social media, right?
• TV/News/Commercials
• Self-help books and videos: What to wear, what not to wear, how to apply your makeup at a certain age, what to eat in a day to lose weight, how to exercise…. some of which, I must admit, I find quite interesting.
• Influencers: Those people who are paid to influence you to buy their endorsed products, to do particulars things, go to certain places.

All these things can be helpful or good, unless they go against what God says is good, what He says is right, what He says to do, or what He tells us not to do. His Word, His voice, is the first we are to listen to and obey. I love and appreciate the people and things God has placed in my life. I have some wonderful people who I can count on for good, godly counsel and advice, amazing mentors, a wise and calm husband who balances out my emotions, a best friend who supports me and calls me on my stuff when needed, precious sisters in Christ who I adore, an amazing and quite large family, and the best sister who has stuck with me through every conceivable thing in life and always will. I am blessed, but even so, I am to listen to God’s voice first and foremost. His Word is always true.

• When we feel like no one loves us, God say He loves us. (1 John 4:9-10)
• When the world says we can’t, God say we can in His strength. (Philippians 4:13)
• When we feel discarded, God says He chose us. (2 Peter 2:9-10)
• When we feel alone, God says we are not alone because He is with us, and He will never leave us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
• When we feel we aren’t “enough”, God say His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
• Regardless of what the enemy says, we are not a mistake; God planned how He would make us, and He has wonderfully made us. (Psalm 139:15-16) We are His workmanship, His masterpieces. (Ephesians 2:10)
• When someone refuses to forgive us, God says He will through the shed blood of His Son. He says we have forgiveness of sins. (Ephesians 1:7) We are redeemed!

So many voices, so many opinions, so many versions of someone’s truth. Oh, how I pray we will continue to seek to listen to His voice; to hear His voice above all other noise and chatter. His is not just a version of truth. It is the only truth. Immerse yourself in His Word. He has much, much more to say about who we are than I have room to list in this post.

Who are you going to listen to? That’s the big question, and for me, I want to listen to the One Who loves me more than anyone, to the One who sent His precious Son to be the atonement for my sins, so that I may have eternal life with Him…to the One who loves me forever and ever, no matter what.

As always, blessings to you,

Jackie