The world is full of loud voices trying to get our attention. Usually the loudest are the ones that are the least worth hearing in the first place. When God speaks why don't we hear Him? When God spoke to Elijah, He spoke with a "gentle" whisper. That is usually how wisdom comes to us. Whether it is God or the trusted counsel of a friend, the words we need the most are the ones we have to make an actual effort to hear.
No matter how many friends we have, we probably only turn to a few when we need real, solid advice. Number one on my list of confidants is my wife, Dena. She is a voice of encouragement, love, character, and wisdom. I also have three other friends, Bill, Dondi, and Clay, that I know without a doubt that their advice will be godly, sound, and truthful, even if they know it will hurt my feelings. They have the permission to do so at my benefit!
Most of us let a few other voices affect us too. The opinion of the crowd can sometimes weigh more than it should. Ask Pilate how the crowd can affect a decision that needs to be made. There is also no shortage of internal voices either: ambition, power, wealth, revenge, greed, pleasure, compromise, and self-centeredness. All of these voices-whether internal or external-are simply expressing the ways of the world. And they can be noisy and relentless. In order to hear true wisdom, we have to slow down, calm down, and ignore the loudness of our world and listen intently for the subtle voice of wisdom.
We need to learn to tune in to the quiet voices that consistently speak truth to you. First and foremost, that is God speaking into our lives. Practice hearing His gentle whisper. But also listen to the counsel of those who you trust most: your spouse, your parents, and your close friends. These people know you all too well and they have been with you on the mountains and the valleys. They want whats best for you. They seek not to destroy you but to build you up. Even if it means to tear you down first, through love.
Listen to those who have earned the right to be heard. The ones that have been faithful to you and to God-those are the words that will speak God into your life and push out the sounds of the world. Their words are worth more than gold and rubies.
Push out the sound!
No matter how many friends we have, we probably only turn to a few when we need real, solid advice. Number one on my list of confidants is my wife, Dena. She is a voice of encouragement, love, character, and wisdom. I also have three other friends, Bill, Dondi, and Clay, that I know without a doubt that their advice will be godly, sound, and truthful, even if they know it will hurt my feelings. They have the permission to do so at my benefit!
Most of us let a few other voices affect us too. The opinion of the crowd can sometimes weigh more than it should. Ask Pilate how the crowd can affect a decision that needs to be made. There is also no shortage of internal voices either: ambition, power, wealth, revenge, greed, pleasure, compromise, and self-centeredness. All of these voices-whether internal or external-are simply expressing the ways of the world. And they can be noisy and relentless. In order to hear true wisdom, we have to slow down, calm down, and ignore the loudness of our world and listen intently for the subtle voice of wisdom.
We need to learn to tune in to the quiet voices that consistently speak truth to you. First and foremost, that is God speaking into our lives. Practice hearing His gentle whisper. But also listen to the counsel of those who you trust most: your spouse, your parents, and your close friends. These people know you all too well and they have been with you on the mountains and the valleys. They want whats best for you. They seek not to destroy you but to build you up. Even if it means to tear you down first, through love.
Listen to those who have earned the right to be heard. The ones that have been faithful to you and to God-those are the words that will speak God into your life and push out the sounds of the world. Their words are worth more than gold and rubies.
Push out the sound!
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