There are many voices in the world vying for our attention. Some encourage, some discourage, like the voice of a loving mother singing soothingly to calm her child to sleep. Likewise, there is a voice of encouragement seeking to calm and give us the courage to engage meaningfully in 2024.
We choose every day which voices we want to listen to and these in turn impact our ability to see our options and what energy we have to take them up. While not all of the voices in our lives are up to us to choose, we can choose the volume at which they play.
Perhaps we are spending time in environments where the loudest voice is telling us we are not enough. Maybe it’s time to seek another place.
Perhaps we are spending too much time indoors and not allowing God’s creation to speak enough peace, joy, and space into our souls. Maybe it’s time to allow God’s nature to encourage our natural growth and mental health.
Perhaps we are listening to too many stories of murder, destruction, and hate. Perhaps it’s time to choose stories about triumph and overcoming and kindness.
Perhaps we are listening to our own voices of doubt and insecurities rather than listening to God’s word. Maybe it is time to be encouraged.
Prayer Time:
Lord, thank you that You have a plan for me and that You are ever present to cheer and embolden me in my daily life. Thank you that you choose to use even my foolish decisions at times to fulfill good in my own life and those of others. Help me to tune into Your voice of encouragement. Help me to turn off the noises in my life that are discouraging, disheartening, or simply wasting my time. Lord, help me to spend time basking in Your voice of encouragement so that I might be a powerful agent for Your good this year.
Amen.
WRITER: Chelsea Ralph, attends Lilydale SDA Church.