Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotion "That Distinct Voice" for Sunday, 26 April 2015 - Scripture: John 10:1 “Yes, indeed! I tell you, the person who doesn’t enter the sheep-pen through the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who goes in through the gate is the sheep’s own shepherd. 3 This is the one the gate-keeper admits, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep, each one by name, and leads them out. 4 After taking out all that are his own, he goes on ahead of them; and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They never follow a stranger but will run away from him, because strangers’ voices are unfamiliar to them.”
6 Yeshua used this indirect manner of speaking with them, but they didn’t understand what he was talking to them about. 7 So Yeshua said to them again, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.
[The Shepherd] calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.[John 10:3-4 (NRSV)]
Early in the morning, when my nephew Joe began to stir, I went to his crib, gathered him up, and carried him downstairs. My identical twin sister, Joe’s mother, was cooking breakfast. “Hi, Joe,” she greeted him. He looked at her, looked back at me, and yelled, “Mama!” as he held out both arms. My twin and I laughed as he distinguished his mother from the imposter.
Just as Joe recognized his mother’s voice, we learn to recognize God’s distinct voice. Sometimes we hear God’s voice when we pray; someone comes to mind or we feel the need to reach out to help or encourage. At other times, we hear God’s voice in scripture. One verse might speak to our particular situation while another offers comfort, strength, or peace.
We also hear God’s voice through the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears.” The Holy Spirit comforts, teaches, and bears witness to the truth. The Spirit gives us discernment and wisdom to recognize God’s voice and to walk with God.
Read more from the author, here."Profound Experiences"
This picture is of my twin sister, Patty, and myself at Vacation Bible School. We look and sound enough alike, to confuse others- which we deliberately do on selected occasions!
During the past six months, I have had two events that profoundly affected my spiritual life. The first was attending The Walk to Emmaus in November 2014. It is a three day spiritual retreat filled with lay and clergy speakers, sharing personal stories, and growing in faith. You can only attend once in your lifetime. I found this experience to be thought provoking, challenging and intense -even though I have been a believer for about 40 years. Prior to the Walk to Emmaus, I wrote about 25 devotions in a four-year span. Since then, I have written 55 devotions in about four months. I felt like the Lord was telling me He gave me something to share.
The second event that shaped my spiritual understanding was being present when another person died. This was the first time I had actually seen someone take their last breath. Nancy, a family member had been alone, holding her dying father's hand. She was praying for someone, anyone, to enter the room. As my sister, Patty, and I walked in she said she did not want to be alone. She asked if we would stay with her. We did… I felt we were exactly where He wanted us to be. After this experience, I really did not want to think much about death. There had been some emotionally heart breaking family deaths prior to this. I just wanted to forget and move on… A friend suggested that being present at death was "holy ground "- and that if I allowed, the Lord would give me a meaningful,richer understanding of that moment in time. He did...And I wrote some devotions about it.
May you continue to grow in the knowledge of His love and purpose. I have been seeing He can do far more than I ever imagined…
In His Service,
Lin
The Author: Lin Daniels (Massachusetts, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we listen for God’s voice, we will find comfort and truth.
Prayer: Thank you, dear God, for reaching out to us and calling us to you. Help us to recognize the ways you speak to us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Seeking Discernment
6 Yeshua used this indirect manner of speaking with them, but they didn’t understand what he was talking to them about. 7 So Yeshua said to them again, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.
[The Shepherd] calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.[John 10:3-4 (NRSV)]
Early in the morning, when my nephew Joe began to stir, I went to his crib, gathered him up, and carried him downstairs. My identical twin sister, Joe’s mother, was cooking breakfast. “Hi, Joe,” she greeted him. He looked at her, looked back at me, and yelled, “Mama!” as he held out both arms. My twin and I laughed as he distinguished his mother from the imposter.
Just as Joe recognized his mother’s voice, we learn to recognize God’s distinct voice. Sometimes we hear God’s voice when we pray; someone comes to mind or we feel the need to reach out to help or encourage. At other times, we hear God’s voice in scripture. One verse might speak to our particular situation while another offers comfort, strength, or peace.
We also hear God’s voice through the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears.” The Holy Spirit comforts, teaches, and bears witness to the truth. The Spirit gives us discernment and wisdom to recognize God’s voice and to walk with God.
Read more from the author, here."Profound Experiences"
During the past six months, I have had two events that profoundly affected my spiritual life. The first was attending The Walk to Emmaus in November 2014. It is a three day spiritual retreat filled with lay and clergy speakers, sharing personal stories, and growing in faith. You can only attend once in your lifetime. I found this experience to be thought provoking, challenging and intense -even though I have been a believer for about 40 years. Prior to the Walk to Emmaus, I wrote about 25 devotions in a four-year span. Since then, I have written 55 devotions in about four months. I felt like the Lord was telling me He gave me something to share.
The second event that shaped my spiritual understanding was being present when another person died. This was the first time I had actually seen someone take their last breath. Nancy, a family member had been alone, holding her dying father's hand. She was praying for someone, anyone, to enter the room. As my sister, Patty, and I walked in she said she did not want to be alone. She asked if we would stay with her. We did… I felt we were exactly where He wanted us to be. After this experience, I really did not want to think much about death. There had been some emotionally heart breaking family deaths prior to this. I just wanted to forget and move on… A friend suggested that being present at death was "holy ground "- and that if I allowed, the Lord would give me a meaningful,richer understanding of that moment in time. He did...And I wrote some devotions about it.
May you continue to grow in the knowledge of His love and purpose. I have been seeing He can do far more than I ever imagined…
In His Service,
Lin
The Author: Lin Daniels (Massachusetts, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we listen for God’s voice, we will find comfort and truth.
Prayer: Thank you, dear God, for reaching out to us and calling us to you. Help us to recognize the ways you speak to us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Seeking Discernment
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