Voices...

Tuesday morning - ready to go and move and get the ministry week going. Staff meeting today, pastor's meeting tomorrow, small group Thursday - and sermon preparation in the middle of all that. As I think about those things that lie ahead (which are ALOT), there are voices that speak out to me:

• Voice of pressure - You need to do more. You aren't doing enough. You need to press your leaders, your congregation, and yourself to DO more than you're doing.
• Voice of doubt - You can't do it. You should do something that you are better at (whatever THAT might be). You haven't done it for 5 years now, what makes you think the next five will be different?
  
• Voice of criticism - You're still at THIS point?! What kind of leader ARE you, anyway? Other leaders would be SO much further along.
  
• Voice of derision - Nobody wants to follow you. That's why people leave. There are SO many better leaders out there.
  

Voices - telling me to get mad, get jealous, even quit and do something different. And yet...those voices aren't the loudest voices today (although they CAN get loud at times). Here is the VOICE that spoke to me this morning, out of Psalm 56...

3When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. 4In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh (man) do to me? 9Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.

There are many voices that would mock me, judge me, wound me, discourage me, and try to tear me apart as a leader. But today - I choose to listen to the Voice of the GOD WHO IS FOR ME! The words of the song Voice of Truth continue to bless me -

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me.
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed.
The giant keeps on telling me time and time again
"Boy you'll never win, you'll never win."

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story!
The Voice of Truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me,
I WILL CHOOSE to listen and believe the Voice of Truth!

But the stone was just the right size to put the giant on the ground!
And the waves they don't seem so high from on top of them looking down!
I will soar with the wings of eagles when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me...

The Voice of Truth tells me a different story!
The Voice of Truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me,
I WILL CHOOSE to listen and believe the Voice of Truth!

Thanking God today for the Voice that speaks the loudest in my heart, and tuning into It more and more...