Stop, Look and Listen

He walks ahead of them, 

and they follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:4 (NLT)

They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. 

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:9-10 (NLT)

God is so gracious to lead us in all our ways.  He is interested in every aspect of our lives, great and small.  He came to give us a rich and satisfying life and desires that our days be filled with blessings, peace and joy.  There are many things in our lives that can rob us of these blessings, things that can steal our peace and our joy. 

Sometimes I don't listen.  I might feel him leading in a certain direction but for whatever reason - either I am not being assertive enough or I’m distracted or I think it won't matter much -  I can get into trouble.  My day becomes too complicated with too many things to do or I simply go in the wrong direction and get robbed of peace.  God being a God of peace is interested in our living an orderly life.  If we try to cram too many things into too little time we can become frustrated, anxious and stretched to the limit.  When we feel stressed because we haven't accomplished everything on our list it is a sign of our control rather than God's.  We can accomplish all he has for us to do if we will allow him to be the Lord of our time. We may need to eliminate unnecessary and draining activities to make room for more fulfilling and satisfying ones.

We can enjoy each moment and accomplish all in a peaceful and orderly manner if we will just listen.  Are we living in his presence in the moment and enjoying what he has given us?  If not, it might be time to stop, look and listen.  STOP what we are doing.  LOOK around at what he has put in front of us.  LISTEN for his voice directing us.  When we stop, look, and listen we open ourselves to experience the full and abundant life he has promised.

I will teach all your children,

 and they will enjoy great peace.

Isaiah 54:13 (NLT)

Bunnies

Bunnies make me smile.  As we finish up our golf membership here in Arizona, playing early each morning (the sun gets up early in Arizona), I get to watch the bunnies grazing and scurrying across the grass, their white cotton tails bobbing up and down.  They always make me smile.  I call to them like they were my pets, but they don't recognize my voice so they run away in fear.  Doesn't that bunny know that I just want to be friends?! 

When God calls out to us he is hoping we will run toward him and not away from him in fear.  He just wants us to come close to him.  When we don't respond or we run the other way we are disappointing him and shortchanging ourselves.  God has so much to offer us in terms of support, comfort and love.  He is saddened when we go the other way depriving ourselves of the companionship he offers.

Lord, tune our ears to hear your voice so that we joyfully run towards you.  When we hear you call may we respond and follow.

My sheep listen to my voice; 

I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 (NLT)

The sheep recognize his voice and come to him.
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
After he has gathered his own flock,

he walks ahead of them,

and they follow him because they know his voice.

They won’t follow a stranger;

they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.

John 10:3-5 (NLT)