Part III — Mixed Messages

From the time you awaken from your slumber ’til you lay your head on that pillow again, you’re bombarded with all kinds of messages from thousands of messengers. They all enter your body and seek to take control of your thoughts. If you entertain them, they become stronger, intuitive, aggressive, and relentless. They’ll feed on your base desires to get rich quick or lavish yourself with precious things. They’ll steal your time and zap your energy as you struggle in vain to achieve that which wasn’t promised.

You might hear You’re not good enough. You’re too skinny. Is that your real hair? You should wear more makeup. Whose car is that? What are you getting with your income tax? What does she have that I don’t have? Girl, I don’t have time to read the bible. That’s irrelevant these day.

We make time for those things that are a priority in our lives — whether they make us stronger or not. They come in the form of reality shows, social media, or jobs. We sometimes convince ourselves that we watch Reality TV because we don’t have to think too much. We use social media to keep in touch with family and friends. We work two or three jobs to get ahead. Though there may be some truth to those assertions; they’re just half truths. What we should listen to is the voice that asks what is all this costing us. Take a lesson from scripture.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” ~John 10:1-10 (NIV)

Lean in and listen to the voice you know. If you don’t yet know the Good Shepherd’s voice, come a little closer and sit a spell. May blessings abound!

P.S. Calling all ladies! Join our Community of Trailblazers by clicking here. We’re starting a seven-day devotional Monday on Listening to God. You don’t want to miss this. <3