KNOWING TO RECOGNIZE

«My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me» (John 10:27, NLT).

Imagine you go to a coffee shop to meet with a friend. As soon as you open the door, you are hit by a wave of different mixed sounds: people talking, waiters picking plates up and clearing tables, and music in the background. However, as soon as your friend says «I’m over here!» you immediately recognize her voice. Even if she is sitting at a table in a corner and you cannot see her face, her voice is unmistakable to you. You recognize it because you know her; because she is your friend, because you have spent hours talking about all sorts of things: family, recipes, difficult decisions, dreams for the future. .. Recognizing God’s voice is no different at all. It is not about formulas, but about relationship. Yes, it is true there are steps you can and should take, like taking time to pray and read your Bible. However, as Henry Blackaby and Claude King write in Experiencing God, «you learn to know the voice of God through an intimate love relationship that He has initiated.» We learn to distinguish God’s voice from the thousands of sounds and noises surrounding us when we become familiar with His character, His idioms, and the love His words distill.

One of my best friends is French. When she sees me and greets me, she does so with a unique inflection and pronunciation. Her «hello» is melodious and full of a deep and almost palpable affection. I could be blindfolded and thousands of different women could be brought to me saying «Hello,» and even so I would recognize her for her tone of voice and sweetness. The key to recognizing God’s voice is the same! It has to do with spending time with Him; we recognize Him by becoming accustomed to Him and practicing.

There are no short cuts or magic pills. «Some people try to bypass the love relationship. Some look for a miraculous sign or try to depend on a formula. . No substitute, however, exists for the intimate relationship with God,» Blackaby and King add. In other words, to recognize His voice, first you have to know Him.

Lord, I want to know You and love You more. I want to constantly be in Your presence, until Your character and Your voice are totally familiar to me. I want to learn to recognize Your words, because they distill love and truth.

#WomensDevotional
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.