“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:4 ESV

I am a sheep.

I’m cute and cuddly and make weird noises with my mouth.

I like staying in a flock.

I’m not a fan of coyotes. 

I have moments of pure stupidity.

And I need a shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd

Psalm 23 clearly tells us “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1 ESV). David goes on to describe how God knows our needs and cares for us.

But this week, in the midst of my on-going hunt for a house, I made an unexpected connection between Psalm 23 and another verse (a connection I can’t believe I never made before. . . God is so cool). 

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

John 10:3-4 ESV

The sheep know his voice.

In this passage, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd (John 10 ESV). He goes on to say that he knows his sheep, and they know him (vs. 14). 

So, if I’m a sheep and if Jesus is my shepherd, then Jesus knows me and I will know his voice.

And I will know his voice.

Let’s sit on that for a moment.

We will know his voice.

We will be able to discern when God is speaking to us.

But. . . 

I need to listen . . . through reading the Bible, praying, and seeking wise counsel.

And I need to take the time to be still. Yes, intentionally take time.

And I need to give God room to speak and move.

And. . . do I want to listen? Because I’m a stubborn girl with Scottish roots, and if I don’t want to listen, I won’t.

It all comes down to trust.

As the end of the calendar year approaches (which, as a teacher, means nothing other than I need to change the year I write on my checks. . . yes, I still write checks), I’ve been thinking about my word for the 2023: Trust.

Because listening for God’s voice and being able to hear God’s voice comes down to trust.

Trusting the Bible is true.

Trusting I can hear God’s voice.

Trusting I will hear God’s voice.

And so as I dwell on these scripture this week, I will put into practice what I often write on the white board in my classroom for my students to process: Listen to understand, not to respond. And I’m not talking about responding to God’s instructions (because we need to) but rather not responding to God with excuses or reasons why he can’t possibly be saying what he seems to be saying.

So I’ll embrace the sheep that I am and follow my shepherd. . . because he knows me, and I will know his voice.

How do you know when God is speaking to you? When have you experienced God speaking to you? What will you do this week to listen to understand, not to respond?

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:4 ESV