Devotionals

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I am hard of hearing sometimes. Okay, I am hard of hearing A LOT of the time. (In my kids I call it "selective hearing".) God very often has to repeat Himself in different ways and through different people to get my attention.

A very good friend of mine sent me an email the other day with a line at the bottom that hit me. "God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you. It's your choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick."

"OK, Lord," I thought, "is that why things have been so hard lately? I am not listening, so You are hitting me with bricks?" (Sarcasm is one of my "gifts"!)

God allowed me in His grace to vent, but the heavens seemed silent.

Yesterday, I started a book called Unafraid by Francine Rivers. It is a dramatization of the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus, mainly focusing on Mary, her person, and her emotions.

I got about to the 2nd chapter and something else hit me (like a brick!) The dramatization of this story added another character to the narrative, not necessarily mentioned in the Biblical story, but definitely present.

The way that the author dramatized the narrative imagines that Mary and Joseph kept hearing "a dark voice" which oppressed them; encouraging them to abandon God's plan, to abandon their faith, and even for Joseph to "stone Mary and the spawn she carries." They see "dark men" with evil eyes. And yet, every time they encountered the Enemy, they prayed, asked God's help, and encountered God in a deeper way, and this encouraged them to keep following God's plan for them.

It never really struck me before that Satan would be present in their lives; and yet, it makes perfect sense. If he could get either one of them to be dissuaded, distracted, or disillusioned with God or His plan, God's plan from before time began would be thwarted (as if, theoretically, God's plans can be thwarted!)

How strongly they must have been attacked!! How they must have had torturous dreams in the dark of the night, and yet, it was in the dark of the night that the angel came to Joseph and told him not to be afraid to marry Mary. God was speaking to this young couple, as was the enemy. They had a choice: WHO to listen to. They chose to listen to--and obey--God.

So, I have been thinking on this.... Mary and Joseph were discerning listeners--they knew Who to listen to; and they were obedient listeners--once they knew what to do, they did it.

In this day and age, and my stage of life, with very little "quietness", how can I live a life of listening to and obeying the right voice? So many things in my life are confusing to me right now. Yet, God knows the path I should take, and His voice does not lead to confusion. Therefore, if I am confused, it logically follows that I am not listening to the right voice.

In John chapter 10, Jesus talks about the "Good Shepherd". In verse 27, Jesus says, "My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me." Do I recognize His voice? I used to. Now, His voice is getting mixed in with so many other voices that I have trouble hearing Him. I have forgotten even how to distinguish between the Shepherd's voice and the Enemy's voice at times.

Without calling it a "resolution" (because if the Lord's mercies are new every morning, every day is a "new day" to start over)...my GOAL for 2008 is to get to know my Shepherd more deeply, spend more time with Him, so that I can recognize His voice, learn to listen to Him, and follow His leading. I want His voice to comfort me, His words to guide me, and His face to shine upon me.

Prayer: Lord, I have moved away from you in recent years. I remember how I used to listen to your voice, and take joy in hearing from you and in studying your word. I remember the many ways that I would see answers to prayer, and the passion with which I used to pray. Restore to me that joy, Lord. Restore to me that passion for You. Please, help me to focus on Your voice, and not listen to the other voices clamoring for my focus and attention, and especially to block out those voices that try to distract me from trusting in You and in Your excellent plan. Help me, by Your grace, to be an obedient sheep. AMEN.

(C) 2008 by Kimberly A. Michalski, all rights reserved. Scripture quotation from the Message.

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