Jesusluvsall's Blog

Tuesday afternoon and I am glad because my evening classes are on break, so that means I can watch one of my favorite TV shows, The Voice, live not on hulu the next day. A big reason I love to watch the voice is how the coaches mentor the singers without demeaning them like on other shows. I also love how the coaches decide who they want on their teams. They listen to the singers voice without seeing them first. It is through listening to the voice blind the coaches decide to hit their button.

Jesus said that his followers, that he compared to sheep which are helpless,  will follow him because they know his voice but will not follow a strangers voice because they do not know the strangers voice. The voice of Jesus is so important for us to get to know because by knowing his voice, we can be spared heartache and also grow strong.

But how do we get to know his voice? How do we build that trust in Jesus to feel confident to follow him and confident we are hearing his voice? How do we know we can hit the button to turn around saying. “I want you” to Jesus like what happens on The Voice?

To know anyone’s voice, we need to know the person. We need to spend time with them, talk with them, be around them. It is the people we know well that we recognize simply by hearing their voice.

Fortunately, Jesus has given us things that help in knowing his voice. We have the bible to read and it is available online, in print, in many versions. We have our church to go to. I feel blessed by both.

There is something that has greatly helped me to grow in knowing his voice- PRAYER and MEDITATION.

Last year, as I went through the winding road of seeing different doctors to find out what was wrong, I would listen to worship music and pray. This has been my habit for many years. I find listening to worship music helps me to focus while I pray. It is also when ideas come to me for ministry, for writing, and for life. Last year, it was during times of prayer and meditation that I found strength mentally, emotionally and spiritually to keep going. I will never forget the dark hours for me in early August when I could not sleep due to pain and the depression/anxiety caused by it. I was actually praying for Jesus to take me home to heaven. But then the quiet voice spoke to me in my spirit as I listened to a song that I probably listened to hundreds of times last year. That quiet voice let me know there is more ahead for me and to hang on. A few days later, the doctor I had a follow up visit with told me I should go ahead and live gluten free and not wait until I had my endoscope because my symptoms were so severe. I found out I have Celiacs, which is now my third autoimmune problem, and Celiacs can cause the severe pain I as having as well as depression and anxiety. BUT- the Voice of Jesus spoke to me through song, prayer, and in my spirit that there is more ahead for me in ministry and this life.

I would like to share the song that meant so much to me. It Is Well by Kristene DiMarco.