What Did God Say?

Written by Samantha Ann Waring-Jolicoeur

 

We live in a world with many voices (varying opinions, preferences, religions, philosophies, mindsets, etc.) I respect others and learned that respecting others doesn’t mean I have to agree and follow any voice that leads me astray from God. I don’t know about you who is reading this right now, but there was a time I was all turned around by the opinions of others.   At some point God in His awesome grace and mercy allows us to feel the disappointment, pain, and frustration with going along with opinions of others that’s void of His will. God knows that following the opinions, philosophies, and mindsets void of His Word and wisdom is dangerous so that is why He lets us know in His Word that following His voice is important:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10 :27

Paul the Apostle wrote:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! Galatians 1:8

We can see clearly by these two scriptures alone that knowing God’s voice and following Him is not just a good thing, but major.

One day riding on the bus, I was typing and a young lady was conversing with her son extremely loud. I notice I was so distracted by her voice, the octave, and even with what she was saying. I became so distracted in my thinking and started thinking about what she was saying instead of focusing on what I was doing. I even felt nervous. I started questioning God about what I was hearing and had crazy notions in my head regarding what she was saying. It was a fight to refocus my thoughts on what I was initially doing. I just kept praying. Finally, God quieted me inside and I was able to gather my thoughts, relax, refocus, and continue with what I was doing.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been in a situation where the voices of others were so loud you could barely focus. Perhaps you couldn’t even hear your own self think let alone what God was speaking to your heart? What about when God made you a promise, said something to you about you, called you to do something; did ungodly thoughts in your own mind, something you heard, or the opinions, philosophies, and preferences of others distract you? Perhaps it persuaded you to do differently than what God wanted, deterred you, and/or troubled you to the point of hindering you or provoking you to dismiss what God said and in turn believe a lie? Well you are not alone. I believe anyone willing to be honest about this, would admit it they experienced this too.  It is a human experience. Although Jesus never sinned, He was tempted with a similar experience:

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days, he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.  And the devil said unto him, if thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said unto him, all this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  And in their hands, they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, it is said, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 4:1-13

Satan was relentless in trying to persuade Jesus to do something other than what the Father had instructed Him (what He knew to be right). Because Jesus experienced it and He is God, we can be comforted and assured that He knows and fully understand the struggle:

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

    

The awesome thing is Jesus did not follow the devil’s voice. Notice each time Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus said it is written. See Luke 4:1-13.  Jesus quoted God’s Word which is pure truth not just fact. He was able to walk victoriously and not give in to the enemy’s temptation. Jesus knew what God said and followed God’s voice. God gave us His Word, His Spirit, and gives us the strength to follow His voice. I do have to state however, that we are not immune to the attack of other voices (opinions, preferences, philosophies, and lies of others) bombarding us, but we don’t have to be victim to it. We can pray and read the bible with the help of the Holy Spirit. As we spend time with God and in His Word/The Bible, we begin to know His voice better. Once we know, understand, and believe what God says/His voice, it is easier to receive, apply, and do what He asks of us. We, our dreams, and hopes will not perish because we don’t lack knowledge of what God says. We know what God said and says!

Thanks For Reading, God bless you,

Samantha Ann Waring-Jolicoeur
 

 

 

 

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