Your Voice

Okay, so you caught me. I screen my phone calls. When the phone rings, if it’s a number I don’t know, I don’t answer it. When the answering machine cuts in, I wait to hear if someone will leave a message. Remember when we were happy to get a phone call? Do you remember before answering machines and caller id, when we wanted to actually talk to the caller?

The other day, my home phone rang, and the caller id showed unknown, so I let it go to the answering machine which kicked in and I heard a voice call my name. The voice was staticky, but I recognized my friend’s voice so I picked up the phone. We talked a few minutes and had a nice visit.

I recognize many of my friends and all my family by their voices. One voice I love to hear is one that speaks often in my heart. I don’t hear this voice with my physical ears, although some people have, but I recognize Jesus’ voice when He speaks to me. When I say, “The Lord told me…….” I usually mean I heard something in my heart.

Let me tell you how I recognize His voice. I spend time with Jesus’ reading the Bible, praying, and just thinking about what He would do or say. Also I am familiar with what Jesus would say now, because I’ve read what Jesus said while on earth. I have known Jesus for many years, since I am now 69 years old and met Him when I was about 8.

Jesus said, “And when he [the Shepherd] brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers…. I am the good shepherd. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:4-5, 27. New King James.

Think about the Bible when you are reading, and listen inside for His voice. He’ll speak to you too.