My Sheep Hear My Voice

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.”  

John 10:27

Have you ever worn hand me downs, or clothes from the ukay-ukay? If you’re a younger child, you usually wear what your older sibling outgrew and can’t fit into anymore. I happen to like rummaging through the piles of clothes in the ukay-ukay, clothes somebody gave away, got tired of, or perhaps became too big for. But isn’t it exciting to receive something really meant for you, with your name on it, not previously worn by someone else? 

Well, sometimes we think that we can only hear God through the priest or preacher, maybe a Bible teacher or scholar like Scott Hahn or Steve Ray or Bishop Robert Barron. But it would be really exciting to “hear” God for ourselves, not a piece of revelation passed on to us from others. Is it possible? 

In John 10:27 Jesus very clearly tells us that, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” God meant for us to hear Him for ourselves, to have a revelation from God, guidance and light. If we want to be part of Jesus’ family, His flock, we should make sure to hear His voice so we can follow Him. From experience, I can say that just like with most things, if we want to be good at something, we need to practice. If we want to hear God we should maybe start with talking to Him, even ask Him questions, and then keeping quiet for some time and listening. Expect Him to speak to you. 

We can be sure that what God says will line up with what scripture says. It will never contradict. Also, God’s messages will always give us tranquility even if He is correcting or disciplining us. One of my husband’s leaders advised him that, “If it is from God, You will find peace. If not, you will feel the flick of the serpent’s tail.” There is no condemnation in Him, only love. God is eager to have a close relationship with us and if we just show up each and every day and talk to Him, we will have the fullness of life and blessing He wants for us.