Voice of Truth

And in kind of a continuation of my last post...

This week, in conversation with almost everybody I bumped into, I heard how they were under attack in THEIR lives. Since I had just written about being under attack last week, I guess I was more open to hear about (and remember) the attacks other people were enduring. Most of them agreed that staying focused on Jesus made it easier to weather an attack, but that it was difficult to keep that focus. All of the attacks seemed coupled with plenty of negative voices. Voices saying that we are not good enough, that we are broken, that we will fail… and a myriad of other negative lies. Like Job, sometimes the voices are from those closest to us (a spouse or friends) and are really hard to ignore.

Yet, we do recognize God’s voice amid all the negative uproar. The little hitch is that God also gave us free will, so it’s up to us to decide which voice to heed. As much as Satan and the world try, they can never drown out the voice of God as he calls to us. And we can make no excuses that we could not recognize God’s voice. In chapter 10 of the Book of John in the New Testament, Jesus assures us that we can recognize His voice above all others:

“…and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
John 10:4

The Bible points up that all of us are constantly under attack. In their fear and doubt, some of the greatest heroes of the bible tried to argue with, or bargain with God. Oh, wait… don’t we do that still to this day? Yet, amazing, wondrous, and miraculous things happen when we choose to listen to, and follow, the voice of God.

The Holy Spirit placed this song in my head. It reflects exactly what I’ve been writing about. I’m including the lyrics, and below them, a video. Enjoy.

Voice of Truth
by Casting Crowns

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
Into 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!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
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 lookin' 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

As promised, here’s the music video:

For me… as the song so eloquently puts it:

“I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth!”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave