Shutting out the voices

I awoke this morning to the sound of my neighbor calling her dog. Lex has a tendency to go her own way and get in trouble for it. Obviously she was not obedient today for as I was sipping my second cup of coffee and watching Beth Moore on Life Today... there was Lex on my deck... in the cold... and in the rain. Poor, wet, cold, disobedient pup.

That's the way I've been feeling lately. (If you remember my pity party not too long ago.) I've gotten over that but there are times the enemy of our souls whispers in my ear "what did you do to deserve this?". God has to be mad at you or you wouldn't be suffering so from the pain of illness and the frustrations of "being in need".

If we're not careful, we talk ourselves into not praying for God's redemption from the pit because of this lie told to us from "that voice". From what I've been told, the illness from which I suffer was most likely caused by a perfect storm of a virus or infection coming at a time of extreme stress. Yes, there was such a time. There were many instances, actually.

Could I have avoided it by having more faith? Perhaps I became ill because I was drinking too much Pepsi and overloaded my pancreas? I know, I got sick because I was so angry with my husband that I spent too long in unforgiveness. That has to be it, right?

As I thought of Lex this morning, the warm and loving Voice overwhelmed that which I need to shut out. It doesn't matter. Nothing I did or did not do may have brought on the suffering at this time in my life. It truly doesn't matter.

His mercies are new every morning. He holds us in the palm of His hand. He says if we come before Him asking for forgiveness, our sins are as far as the East is from the West. He doesn't remember them so if there is a voice whispering in our ear about our past failures... that voice does not belong to the only One whose opinion counts. He does not bring up the past and He tells us not to fear the future.

He walks with us in the here and now... we can go boldly before the throne of Grace being washed white as snow and pure before Him.

We can ask for Provision even if a voice is whispering our problems are our own fault (whether they are or not).

We can ask for Healing even if our own disobedience has brought about illness or because we live in a fallen world.

We can intercede for a loved one to come to the Creator of the Universe no matter what the past has shown or has been done.

As I was watching Lex through the windows of the french door, that is what the true Voice whispered to me. For unlike that poor pup, we have a Lord who is waiting to dry us off, set us by a warm fire, read to us Words of faith and encouragement, and present us to the Father... for that which Jesus begins He will also finish.

As long as we have faith in the correct Voice and trust and believe.

Picture: Nostalgia mini; allposters.com