MENU
.png)
In his book None of These Diseases, S. I. McMillen tells the story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application form: “Are you a leader?” Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, “No,” and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.”
The Bible refers to believers as sheep, who, by nature, among other shortcomings, have horrible senses of direction. They (or we) get lost the minute we wander away. When separated from the flock or placed in an unfamiliar area, they (or we) become disoriented, circle aimlessly, or freeze in place. Following is thereby essential.
As we enter 2026, The Great Shepherd of the sheep will determine the waypoints for our lives. But will we look and listen intently for them?
According to Isaiah 30:20-21, notice Who leads, and who is to follow: “He, your Teacher, will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right or to the left.’”
It’s as if Jesus Himself, in a real sense, gently whispers over your shoulder and into your ear, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Then there’s the comforting assurance the Psalmist gives us- “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.”
For any of you who are hard-wired to be a follower, take it with a smile. Far from something to be ashamed of, it needs to be admired.
Think about it—who is more likely to run into a snare and get caught in a trap? The Christian who charges ahead on his or her own? Or the quieter, more patient soul waiting to hear their Shepherd's still, small voice?
.png)
As we dive headlong into the busy fray of the New Year, which is an unhealthy tendency we’ve inherited from birth, the noises of the world we bid “come in,” thereby drowning the aforementioned “whispers” of the Almighty out. The result is an inability to decipher any such commands from Him, such as “turn to the right” or “turn to the left.” That’s a critical error, similar to your GPS going out at a crossroads in the middle of nowhere. Once the cell coverage ends, you’re left to figuring out how to get to your destination without any bearings to guide you.
In his book Christian Reflections, C. S. Lewis says that a person who is determined to ignore God's voice will follow this advice, "Avoid silence, avoid solitude, avoid any train of thought that leads off the beaten track. Concentrate on money, sex, status, health, and (above all) your own grievances. Keep the radio on. Live in a crowd."
On the one hand, would any of us readily admit we’re bound and determined to drown out the voice of our Creator? And yet, on the other hand, how often do we practice the very things Lewis lays out in order to do so? That’s just crazy. But we all do it.
I believe it takes discipline to still ourselves, or quiet ourselves, before we read God’s word. And as we do, we’re in a much better position to hear what He desires to tell us. It’s a progression, as A. W. Tozer explains, and takes time.
“The progression will be something like this: First, a sound as of a Presence walking in the garden. Then a voice, more intelligible, but still far from clear. Then the happy moment when the Spirit begins to illuminate the Scriptures, and that which had been only a sound, or at best a voice, now becomes an intelligible word, warm and intimate and clear as the word of a dear friend. Then will come light and life, and best of all, the ability to see and rest in and embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of all.”
So, where do I start? What’s the remedy? How can I combat all the noise?
.png)
I’m reminded of Jerome Avery’s story, when he failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games, which was a crushing blow to his lifelong dream. At a crossroads, he learned of the Paralympics' need for guide runners, who run tethered to blind athletes. Avery joined a friend in Greece and helped Lex Gillette win silver in the long jump. This experience sparked a new passion, and Avery went on to guide multiple Paralympic athletes to medals, including gold, and in 2014, helped one become the fastest blind runner ever to compete. Avery’s journey proved we all need to be tethered to something, or Someone, more stabilizing than ourselves.
To get you started, I’ve come up with three practical steps you can take, like New Year’s resolutions, except in this case, each task meets the following criteria:
What I’m suggesting is a more or less START SLOW then GO approach or method.
1st- Choose one of these devotions that are my favorites (or your own)
Experiencing God Day by Day: Devotional and Journal by Henry Blackaby ($9.14 at Amazon)
The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble (free here)
Streams in the Desert by Lettie B. Cowman (free here)
The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Timothy Keller ($18.48 at Amazon, $8.99 on Kindle, .99 on Audible)
God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs by Timothy Keller ($11.70 at Amazon, $9.99 on Kindle, .99 on Audible)
2nd- Pick a favorite spot to meet with God
3rd- Spend twenty minutes, three times a week praying and going through your devotion (1-hour total is very doable)
That’s pretty much it. Simple and straightforward. Achievable, Measurable, and Sustainable. All that’s left is: Will you do it?
