April 28, 2008
God’s Voice or the World’s Voice
Part 1
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Do you remember playing the childhood game, Pin the Tail on the Donkey? One child is blindfolded, spun around in circles, and then pointed in the direction of a donkey posted on the wall. As she makes her way to pin the donkey’s tail in the correct position, onlookers yell which way she should go.
“Move to the right!”
“Move to the left!”
“You’re getting cold!”
“Now you’re getting warmer!’
“Go up a little!”
Some of the voices intentionally try to mislead the blindfolded person, but usually the player will try to pick out the voice of her loyal friend, someone she can trust, and block out the others who desire to distract her. As she inches her way toward the donkey and returns to him his tail, she removes the blindfold to see if she trusted the right voice.
As we become women who listen to God, we also must learn how to discern God’s voice from the many others that are calling out to mislead and distract us. There are many voices, and we must learn who is friend and who is foe.
In the Bible, we learn that Jesus Christ has already won the victory over sin and death, and because we are God’s children, that victory is shared with us. However, until Jesus returns, we will continue to fight a spiritual battle on three fronts: the world, the flesh and the devil (Ephesians 2:2-3). All three voices shout commands, and as a soldier of Christ, we must be able to recognize the voice of our commander and the voices of the enemy forces. Over the next two days, we’ll look at each of three “counterfeits” to God’s voice and learn how to recognize them.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I want to become a woman who listens to Your voice. Help me to detect the counterfeits of the world, the flesh, and the devil. I pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to help me be a lie detector and a truth projector.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Can you picture yourself like the little girl playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey?
Has anyone’s words ever led you astray?
What could have prevented you going in the wrong direction?
Today, pay close attention to the voices that are calling out to you? Are the words from the world, the flesh, the devil, or from God? Not sure? Be sure to tune in tomorrow.
More from the Girlfriends
If you would like to learn more about how to tell if the voice you are hearing is from the world, the flesh, or the devil - or from God, then you’ll want to read Becoming a Woman who Listens to God. In it, Sharon looks at how God speaks today, the counterfeits and imposters, and the barriers and bridges to hearing God’s voice.
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G.I.G.
Girlfriends in God, Inc.
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, North Carolina 28106
Web site: www.girlfriendsingod.com
Email: info@girlfriendsingod.com
Originally published Monday, 28 April 2008.
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