Listen, Recognize, and Respond

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” – (John 10:27, NIV)

“My sheep recognize My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.” – (John 10:27, MSG)

“My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me.” – (John 10:27, VOICE)

I appreciate the slight variations in phrasing in each of these three translations. To follow after God means that we listen, recognize, and respond to the voice of Jesus. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows what is best for us. The only way for us to do and be what we have been created for is if we can identify the voice of God, the still small voice that whispers to our hearts, truly listen to what He is saying, and then respond with action. May we ever seek the Lord in prayer, spend time in His word, and give Him time and space where we simply listen.

In order to hear,

Photo by Harrison Haines on Pexels.com

We must choose to seek;

To listen and learn,

Know what the Lord speaks.

He is the shepherd,

Who know us by name;

He cares and protects,

And forgives our shame.

He raises us up,

And in love He leads;

Directs with purpose,

And meets all our needs.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You speak to us and instruct us in how we ought to live. Forgive us for the times that we have not listened intently or have avoided action in areas You have called us to act. Teach us how to trust You more so that we would seek You and recognize Your voice to truly listen and then act on what You say. Lead us to love as You love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we invest time in seeking to know You more so that recognize Your voice as we hear You speak and act upon all that You ask. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me. – Revelation 3:20

Listen and Follow

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – (John 10:28, NLT)

 

To be His sheep requires an intentional choice to seek to follow Christ. When we make the decision to live for the Lord, rather than for ourselves, we listen for His instructions so that we might do His will and walk in His way. God sees and knows each heart that earnestly seeks Him. He is present to help all who long to follow where He is leading. We may stumble and fall along the way, but He is present to pick us up, dust us off, and continue to lead us the way we are meant to go.

Not one of us will get it right 100% of the time. However, we cannot allow fear of failure to paralyze us from forward momentum. His grace is sufficient, and He will meet us as we move, gently adjusting our sails if we get off course. Sometimes He allows obstacles to be placed in our path, so that we might take pause and reroute, according to His plan, not our own. May we each be sensitive to hear His voice, and intentional to follow wherever He leads.

 

The Lord is present,

May we hear His voice;

It’s through our seeking,

Intentional choice.

Each one of us known,

With freedom to choose;

To listen and learn,

His path to pursue.

Lord, help us follow,

With all that we are;

Lead us and guide us,

As You’ve done thus far.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You, we find You and we are known by You. Thank You that we can hear Your voice as You speak to us through Your word, through people, and in the stillness of our own hearts. Forgive us for not following as You are leading. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would obey immediately, all that You are asking. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they too, shall come to know Your voice. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we listen and follow after You with all that we are. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:5

Secure in His Hand

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me. – (John 10:28, NLT)

I give My sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of My hand. – (John 10:28, ERV)

I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand. – (John 10:28, VOICE)

 

Once we commit our hearts and lives to the Lord, no one can take His love, hope nor peace away from us. Our future is secure in His hands. Eternity is promised in His presence, when our trust is in the Lord. No matter what comes, we are His. There is much comfort in the blessed assurance that the Lord holds us in His hands and will not allow anything nor anyone to steal us away from Him. May we trust all that we are in His hands, and allow the hope found in Christ alone, to permeate every pore of our being.

 

The Lord gives us life,

for eternity;

as we give ourselves,

His love sets us free.

Free to embrace hope,

by truth, we are found;

no more set to die,

in His life, we’re crowned.

And beyond the hope,

He holds us secure;

nothing can remove,

our future’s assured.

All glory to God,

our Savior and King;

Protector, defense,

from trials life brings.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You give eternal life, and that in You, we will never truly die. Thank You that nothing and no one can steal us from Your loving and protective hand. Forgive us for seeing You as less than You are and making You too small in our own understanding. Teach us to begin to grasp the greatness of who You are and how You love, so that we would trust without wavering. Show us how to love others in a way that highlights the hope we hold in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we receive all that You offer, and trust in You with all that we are. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

Listen and Follow As We Are Known

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. – (John 10:27)

 

When we listen to the Lord, we come to know and understand that we are known by Him. There is nothing quite so powerful to propel us to follow our Heavenly Father, as His love for us, individually. Just as a child will follow their parent and listen for their leading when they feel safe and loved, so too, can we trust and obey what our loving Lord asks of us. He leads us to places that we never thought that we would go, for purposes we never dreamed we might serve. However, that being said, all things are ultimately used for His glory, and He uses everything for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It is well worth it to listen and follow the Lord, for we are known and loved, and will be lead into the place that He has prepared for us forever. May we listen well for His voice, and follow Him wherever He may lead; for each one of us is fully known by God.

 

We are the sheep,

that the Lord has named;

we’ll hear His voice,

as truth is proclaimed.

For we are known,

by the Lord on high;

Who loves and leads,

and hears our heart’s cry.

We must follow,

where He calls us to;

He has purpose,

for all we go through.

He’ll take the bad,

and use it for good;

to help others,

His grace understood.

May we each know,

as we are well known;

how much we’re loved,

through all Christ has shown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can listen for Your voice and hear what You have to say to each of us. Thank You that You speak to us through Your word, through prayer, through worship, through people, through pictures, with Your still small voice within; thank You that You are not limited in how You can speak if we are only willing to listen. Thank You that You know us each intimately, as You alone knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. Thank You that You grant us the capacity to follow You, when we give You our hearts and our lives. Forgive us for straying from the path on which You have placed us, or for fearing forward momentum in the direction that we have been called. Teach us to trust You completely, as we are so completely known and protected by You. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they too may come to know Your voice and the light that comes from a life invested in You. Be glorified O God, as we listen to You and follow what You ask, because we are fully known. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41

He Knows His Sheep

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me – (John 10:14)

 

Jesus was again addressing a crowd, trying to help them understand who He was, and what that could mean in their lives if only they would choose to believe for themselves. To be counted among His sheep, is everything. As the Good Shepherd, He lovingly guides us and knows us by name; yet fiercely protects us from the enemy, to the point of willingly laying His life down for ours. Our very human make-up has an innate need to know and be known. We are wired to be in relationship with our Good Shepherd. May we embrace the grace that He so freely gives, and seek to follow Him all of our days, as we choose to listen to His voice.

 

We are the sheep,

of His pasture land;

granted His grace,

held up by His hand.

He calls our name,

and we know His voice;

kept safe from harm,

when He is our choice.

Not free from storms,

yet future’s secure;

promised presence,

His nearness assured.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Good Shepherd and that You call us by name. Thank You that when we choose to follow You, You help us to hear and know Your voice. Thank You that You lead us and guide us in Your love, and You willingly laid Your life down for ours, so that we have hope not only for today, but for all of eternity. Forgive us for becoming distracted by the dangers that lie outside of the pen of Your protection, and help us to fix our eyes securely on You, trusting that You are with us and will hold us steady, even in the strength of the storm. Lead us to love others as You so lavishly love us, and may many come to know You as their Good Shepherd too. Be exalted, Lord God, as we follow Your voice today. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; …write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3