Whether we want to admit it or not, we all hear voices in our head. For some of us, those voices are encouraging and motivating. For others, they are condemning and negative. The voices you hear can be a good indicator of who or what you are allowing to speak to you on a regular basis. The good news is that you have the power to train those voices in your head–turning down the volume to the discouraging ones and tuning in to the ones guiding you to the Truth.
Right now in your life, who are you listening to? Are you listening to the voice of society convincing you to do whatever makes you happy, no matter the consequences? Are you listening to the voice of the Enemy trying to condemn you, shame you, or tempt you? Are you listening to the voice of your past, reminding you of huge regrets and lost dreams? Are you listening to the voice of a negative person in your life, telling you that you are not good enough or not worthy of love? Are you listening to social media, telling you how you wonderful your life will be if only you do _________? Whoever you are giving your attention to will be the one that gets the most airtime in your head.
When I was young, I often heard the voice of my mom or dad in my head. When I would go out with friends, I would hear my mother remind me to “Be sweet.” When I would be in a dark parking lot, I would hear my dad caution me to pay attention to my surroundings. When kids would pick on me at the playground or tease me during high school, I would hear them both encourage me with, “They’re just jealous,” or an acknowledgement that these difficult years are hard but won’t last forever. Even when my parents weren’t around, the words they spoke to me filled my mind and influenced what I did and how I thought.
As I matured and grew in my relationship with Christ, studying the Bible and filling my head with the Lord’s words, the voices of my parents were often replaced with the voices of my Heavenly Father. Now when I am exhausted and overwhelmed, I hear him say, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) When I feel tired from fighting a battle in my life, I hear him say, “I will fight for you. You need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14) The more I actively listen to God’s word and let Him have my attention, the more I hear His voice above all the others.
There are times when people in my life say hurtful things, filling my head with doubts and condemnation. It is easy to let those discouraging words echo in my mind all day long until I am so beaten down that I want to give up or run away. On those days, the best thing for me to do is go out onto my porch, look out on God’s creation, and cry out to Him, asking Him to drown out those voices with His. It works! Scripture after scripture fills my head and those hurtful words from others fade to the background.
The voices you allow to speak loudly in your head can have a huge impact on your life, either deflating you and leading you to feel hopeless, unimportant, or lost or, in contrast, building you up and helping you feel empowered, worthy, useful, and loved. Don’t allow those voices to train you. Take the initiative to train them. Spend time with God and in His Word. Surround yourself with people who will remind you of His Truth and encourage you in your relationship with Him.
In John 10:27, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, reminds us, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Let’s all make sure we are listening to our Shepherd’s voice and allowing only His to lead us through our lives.
Growing By Surprise 