O Lamb of God, how I long to hear You speak to me. Like the Prophet Samuel, I try to stay close to You but have difficulty distinguishing Your voice when You speak. So much clutter comes into my mid from the world. When You speak it gets lost in all the noise of what is going on around me. I must get to the point where Samuel did when he said, “Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.” I put myself in the best position to hear from You when I can focus intently on You and listen closely for what You may have to say. The best way I can think to do that is to set aside a quiet time … like before I go to bed or when I first rise in the morning … to spend time with You alone in my prayer closet. In the quiet, I am more likely to be able to hear You and speak with You. I must pledge to not only be a hearer of what You say, but a doer.
In Your Word You have said, “The man who enters by the gate is the Shepherd of His sheep. The watchman opens the gate for Him, and His sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” As My Shepherd, it is Your desire to provide me with safety, security, and guidance. How am I able to receive these things if I do not know Your voice and follow what it requires of me. The first step in knowing Your voice is become one of Your sheep. The next thing is to be willing to follow Your guidance and walk in the way You lead. In walking with You daily, I will become accustomed to Your will and Your ways. There is no better way of learning about You and Your ways than through becoming familiar with the scriptures. Through them You will be made known to me and I will be able to discern the things You say.
As one who has been bought with a price, I should be able to recognize Your voice and respond to what it may ask of me. Your goodness and faithfulness should be reflected in the words I hear You speak. To enable my hearing, I must seek to avoid the evil that will try to infiltrate my mind with worldly and selfish thoughts that try to drown You out. I must understand that You dwell in me, I am not my own and I am committed to doing Your will. The small, sweet voice inside of me beckons me to a closer walk with You. One that is attentive to Your instructions and responds to what You command. As You have instructed, I must pray without ceasing and continually listen for what You tell me. To be able to distinguish Your voice and follow Your instructions is the goal I have for my life. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
John 10:3 The watchman opens the gate for Him (the Shepherd), and the sheep listen to His voice.