“When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
- John 10:4-5 (NASB)
When we don’t know someone, we consider them a stranger, but what about when we don’t recognize ourselves?
I was faced with a life altering decision that would affect the life of others around me. I knew God’s Word and I believed the decision I was about to make was approved by God. Yet, there was an unsettled voice in me that was saying “No.”
I jumped ahead anyway and said “Yes”. Looking back, I have questioned myself as to why I did that. God says, in James 1:14 that “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire.”
I did not recognize at the time I was being “carried away” by my desire for safety and security. I am now aware; I was the stranger I was following. My “Yes” ended in divorce and had I listened to God say “No” and the wisdom to identify the stranger called desire, I would have held off on my decision.
Thank you, Lord, that even through this tough lesson You are helping me understand how to identify Your voice amongst the strangers in me.
This devotion by author, Terrie Miles, is exclusively and solely shared with permission to New Beginnings Church. Any unauthorized printed reproduction, sharing or use of this material is prohibited.
