“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27. Have you ever been in a work zone where the noise level was so high that you couldn’t hear others when they spoke to you? That is what the distractions of this world do when the Lord is trying to speak to — and lead — us. Those things that keep us so busy become the noise of distraction, deafening us to the sound of God’s voice.

It is easy to become overwhelmed, stressed, and distracted in this day and age. We have work, family, ministries, etc. And those all require significant amounts of time. Add friends, study time, and leisure activities, and there is hardly any time left for God. We can even become so busy with doing things for God, that we are no longer listening for His voice. When this happens, we can miss what He is trying to say to us. The noise of distraction has drowned out the sound of His voice.

We see a really good example of this in Luke 10:38-42. A woman named Martha (sister to Mary and Lazarus) invited Jesus and the disciples into her home. As Jesus sat talking, Martha began all the preparations for their guests and their meal. But, her sister Mary curled up at Jesus’s feet and just sat, listening to His every word. So, Martha approached Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”. Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary had chosen not to rush around getting the house spotless. She didn’t dig out the best China and elaborate place settings. She wasn’t looking up really unique recipes on social media apps. Mary was pushing all of that busyness out of the way, so that she could hear the voice of the Lord and what He had to say.

We can — and should — do the same.

Jesus said in John 10:27 that His sheep hear His voice. He also says that His sheep know Him.

But, to hear someone’s voice, we have to listen! In order to hear Jesus’s voice, we have to do what Mary did. We must push the busyness of life out of the way, curl up at His feet, and just listen.

And, to know someone, we have to spend time with them.

In John 10:14-15, Jesus elaborates on what it means to know Him and what it means to be known by Him. “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15.

We (Jesus’s sheep) do not know Him the way that we would know a neighbor down the street. He says that we will know Him and He will know us, in the same intimate and beautiful way that the Father knows Him and He knows the Father! Jesus and His sheep (us) have a very intimate relationship. He sacrificed His life to save His sheep (us) from a crouching lion, just as a good shepherd would. This should cause us to long for the sound of His voice. It should cause us to long to sit curled up at His feet waiting for even a whisper from Him. But we have to push out the noise of distraction.

Our Good Shepherd gave his life as a ransom for ours. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6. As a result, we are able to have an intimate, personal relationship with Him. Because of His sacrifice, we are able to hear His voice.

And we (His sheep) hear His voice (because we listen) and know Him (because we spend time with Him). But how much? How much do we listen? And how much time do we spend with Him? Do we squeeze time in like Martha did? Or do we spend time with Him and listen, the way that Mary did? Only then will the noise of distraction get pushed out so that we can hear the voice of our Savior.

There is an enemy who will throw every distraction he can at us. His desire is to use the noise of distraction to keep us from hearing the voice of our Shepherd.

1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the enemy is like a crouching lion seeking someone to devour. He wants to draw us (Jesus’s Sheep) away from the shepherd so that He can lure us into sin and devour our testimony. Or worse, if we don’t know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, that enemy is luring us away to devour our salvation, and ultimately, our eternal life in heaven.

The noise of distraction can come in any form. It can be items on our daily to-do list, tending to the needs of loved ones, ministries, or sin/temptation. It will drown out the precious voice of our Savior if we are not seeking Him the way that Mary did.

We must listen for the sound of His voice. We must spend time getting to know Him. He wants a relationship with us. And He makes Himself available. But we have to seek Him; seek time with Him and the sound of His voice. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Nothing that this world holds will ever compare to the love and peace that we will find in the presence of our Savior. But we have to push out the noise of distraction.

Sometimes we think that we have no time to spend in prayer, study, and listening for God. But, if we make time to spend with the Lord, He will direct our paths. The one who created time will help us accomplish all that needs to get done.

Father, we praise and thank You that You desire a relationship with us. We praise You that You provided a way that we can have that relationship, eternally! Help us to long to be in Your presence, Father, and to hear the sound of Your voice. Forgive us for putting other things before You. Forgive us for not seeking You first. Father, help us to prioritize our days and tasks, placing You at the forefront. Help us to push out the noise of distraction and to hear Your voice, Father. We love You, Lord, and we pray these things in Your precious and Holy name.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you feel like a mouse on a wheel, running but never getting anywhere, that is the noise of distraction. Stop running, curl up at Jesus’s feet, go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/), and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Jesus wants that intimate and beautiful time with you. Don’t keep Him waiting!

Once you have prayed that prayer, or if you have any questions, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.

Luv Ya!