As we start a new year I want to pause for a moment and challenge us with this question "Whose voices do we listen to"? You might be thinking, what does that even mean, let me explain.
Voice on Influence
We live in a culture and world that is guided and greatly influenced by technology and social media. Everyone wants their voice to be heard and everyone wants to speak their opinion on every matter of life. If we are not careful we can get caught up in the wave of the many voices that are speaking.
Why is this important? Because what voices we listen to and allow in our life will guide, direct and shape us. Therefore, it is important to ask, what voices am I allowing in my life to guide, direct and shape me. It vital that we not only know what we are listening to but also know if what we are listen to is even true.
For example, if you are continually listening to voices of influence that state you will only be happy if you make a certain amount of money, than these voices will control your whole life, for you will now be living for money. The major problem is, the belief "you will be happy with a certain amount of money" is not true. For even the rich wrestle with depression, loss of purpose and even suicide. If money fixed all that, you would never have those issues among the rich. Therefore, if you believe this statement about living for money, you are living and basing your life on a lie.
What voices do you listen to?
Voices of Authority
Not only are the voices we listen influential, but when we allow voices to influence us we give those voices authority in our life. That might sound strange but let me explain what I mean.
Those voices we allow to speak into our life become an authority in which we follow what they say. If you have many voices speaking one way about purpose and meaning of life and you allow those to influence you, you have now given authority to those voices. Why do I say that? For you are falling under those voices leadership and believe everything they say. Therefore, it is vital to know if we are allowing negative bad authority into our lives or not.
All Voices are Speaking But Who Do We Listen To
So what am I saying all this for today? As we enter into a new year we have to check the voices we allow into our life for those voices become authorities and influence everything about us. Those voices influence our view of life, love, sexuality, purpose, marriage...etc. Which voices are you allowing to influence and be an authority in your life?
Where do these voices come from? They can be social media influencers, books, movies, actors, friends, politicians, God etc. All those voices are speaking but are they all speaking truth and guiding in the right way? God has spoken the only question is do we listen to what God, the creator, sustainer and designer of all things has to say. God speaks clearly about all matters of life from: purpose, evil, suffering, sex, marriage, sexuality...etc. When God speaks he only speaks what is true, for God does not and cannot lie. "It is impossible for God to lie" [Hebrews 6:18]
God is not human,that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
The only question is are we listening to what God says or are we listening to what others say. God who is creator of all things is the source of truth and is the ultimate authority on all matters of life; but are we listening to God or not.
What voice are you listening to? Either God's voices is the authority in your life or there is another. God's voice leads to life and flourishing, the other voices lead to death.
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him... Deuteronomy 30:19-20