Are You Listening to the Voice of Truth?
July 13, 2023
Are You Listening to the Voice of Truth?
By Brooke Holt
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9
Take a few moments here to consider the disposition of your parents, especially your father. Was he gracious with you when you made a mistake? Was he slow to get angry? Did he regularly express his love to you and then demonstrate that love in his interactions with you and through physical touch?
I ask these questions not so that you can critique your parents, but because your interaction with your parents (especially your father) shapes your view of the heavenly Father. If your earthly father or mother was critical, abusive, angry, and unforgiving then you will likely impose those characteristics onto your heavenly Father (though often unknowingly).
Even if you had difficult parents who did not demonstrate the attributes of God while raising you, you still have tremendous hope. God is gracious to you even when you sin terribly. God is slow to anger. You may be angry at yourself, or you may be experiencing anger from or towards a boss or a spouse, but God responds to you so differently. He is patient with you. Beyond that, he knows why you do the things you do, and he knows how to bring healing and transformation to your life.
God is good to you, and he is for you. His mercy for you abounds each and every day. Unlike the people in your life, God will never wound you, disappoint you, abuse you, or abandon you. His love for you always remains steadfast, and his character never changes. Taking time to allow God to heal your misconceptions concerning both him and his feelings toward you is vitally important You may want to write down these words from Psalm 145 and keep them on your desk or taped to your mirror as they are God’s words of truth.
Casting Crowns recorded a beautiful song entitled “The Voice of Truth”. Throughout the song, they sing about the various voices that seek to control you - the voices of failure, shame, fear, and weakness. These voices ring clearly and loudly and feel so very true as they echo the voices you have heard from your parents, authority figures, friends, or often yourself. These words make you feel small and inadequate.
Then, you hear the voice of Truth - the voice of God, and the only voice worth hearing, remembering, and following: “But the voice of Truth tells me a different story. The Voice of Truth says, ‘Don’t be afraid!’ And the Voice of Truth says, ‘This is for my glory.’” Two voices – two completely different messages – two sources: your enemy and your Savior. Which voice is worthy of having you listen?
The Casting Crowns song ends with the proclamation that the singer will listen to the Voice of Truth and not only listen but also believe it; act on it; take it to heart. May God empower you to make that choice for yourself today as well. He loves you; he is good; and his mercies will never fail you.
Reflection:
Read these verses from Psalm 145 again. If you struggle to believe this Voice of Truth, ask the Lord to cover you in his love and healing presence. He wants to be the voice that guides your life, and his words are the Voice of Truth. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.
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