Guest blog submitted by Amy WrightI have a super-sense. You know how, in a crowded, noisy party, Superman can isolate a whispered phone conversation in another room? I can do that. Sort of. Here's how it works.
Amy: "I love this song."
Everyone else at the table: "There's music playing?"
Amy: "You can't hear that?" (I sing a few bars...)
Everyone else at the table: "That's incredible. You can hear that over the party of 30 8th-grade-girls at the table next to us? Amy? Amy?"
Amy: (Too busy singing...)
In John 10, Jesus tells a parable about a good shepherd. He says that the sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice. It's a beautiful picture, isn't it? The shepherd spends enough time with the sheep - caring for them, leading them, talking to them - that they recognize his voice when he calls and will go where he leads.
I was thinking about how my "super-sense" is kind of like that - it works best with my favorite artists - the ones I've spent the most time listening to. Hearing as little as one note sometimes, I can start right in because I am so familiar with those voices. I know them, I love them, and it's almost a physical impossibility for me to keep from singing along.
I'm humbled by the reality that Jesus invites us to know him that well. He wants us to spend so much time listening to his voice, reading his words, absorbing his presence, that it takes but one word for us to recognize when he is speaking - and maybe even more importantly, to recognize when someone other than the good shepherd is calling us. He wants us to love his voice so much that we can't help but sing along.
Another thing that strikes me about this story is that sheep don't talk. And they're not really capable of having a 2-sided relationship. In order for any bond to be built between the shepherd and the sheep, the shepherd has to take the initiative. The shepherd does all the work. And all the talking.
The job of the sheep is just to stay within the reach of the shepherd's voice.
How have you "heard" Jesus' voice among all of the other voices in your life?
Comments (13)
You have to separate between the calls for daily routine and voices that God tries to reach you in Spirit. It takes peace of minds and prayers. The works that are expected of you and the calls to work in God's grace are related but they're not quite the same.
I've heard the beckoning call of satan to give into those lustful desires and thoughts concerning sexual temptation.. Then I hear Jesus whisper that "I am not my own and was bought at a price" I'm learning that true intimacy comes from him.
I used to think I did...but I am not sure...that is my problem I always question and don't think I am anything special enough for HIM to talk to me.
Very true, the more time you spend in His presence, reading His love letter to you, (the bible) and listening to His direction, the easier it is to discern whose voice is speaking to you. Prayer is very important too. It isn't just about listening though. Prayer is a dialogue not just a monologue. Our Heavenly Father loves to hear our voice too
@alterEGGO@xanga - I thought that, too up until a little while ago. A book I read helped a bit, the title is "Captivating" and it's written by a husband and wife team. I think the reason I thought I wasn't special enough was because I thought of myself independant of God. Yes, he's my savior, yes he's my father, but he's him and I'm me. What I didn't get for so long was that he created me because he wanted someone like me to love. He doesn't need me, but he picked out everything about me and made me the way I am because he wanted to love me. When you want to love someone, you talk to them and spend time with them, which is what God wants from me. It's up to me whether or not to receive and reciprocate that love. He's always talking, is just up to us to listen.
So then, be encouraged
He made you because he wanted someone exactly like you to love, and no one else can love him like you do. Yay for uniqueness!! If he didn't want to talk to you, he wouldn't have made you, but he did, and he loves you 
I love what you've written here. Very good.....i also have that superpower by the way. People can't believe I hear a song...they think it's just in my head. :)
@alterEGGO@xanga - it's definitely not about people being "special" enough for for God to talk to them because He doesn't call the righteous but the sinners to repentance. God isn't looking for someone perfect or anything. We are all special. The enemy tries to convince us that we aren't anything special and that we aren't good enough to speak to God or vice versa. Don't listen to that. You are special enough, just believe.
God bless!
@XATTACK_SQUIRREL_TARGETX@xanga - @hazeL_eyed_mami08@xanga - thank you for taking the time to respond to what I wrote. I thank you for your up-building words.
oh you're welcome! We ALL need encouragement from time to time. Stay strong! God really loves you!
@hazeL_eyed_mami08@xanga - I just wanted to encourage you, I thought your response was lovely..... I was touched by it and it wasn't even for me lol.
x
Lovely story Amy thank you for sharing it with us.
I hear God in different ways.... sometimes I even block him out, not an easy thing to say, but true.
x
I find the part that you say sheeps don't talk and the job of the sheep is just to stay within the reach of the shepherd's voice very encouraging. (: Seriously, God loves and so much and he knows we may not be faithful all the time and he made things so much easier for us. Great post! love it!
my sister read captivating and it changed her life... the same team wrote a book called wild at heart which really changed mine....
i appreciate the candor of this post and its relevance :o)