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Jesus said,
I am the good shepherd
who gives His life for His sheep.
My sheep hear My voice,
and I know them,
and they follow Me.
(John 10:11, 27)
Although our world honors busyness, most people are crying out for someone to take time to listen to them as they seek to fulfill their God-given needs of love and acceptance. Discipleship ministry is all about listening to these cries and leading people to ultimately hear from God, the Source of love and acceptance.
The Greek word "hear" in the above verse means "to hear and respond in one action." In the context of these verses, people who personally hear Jesus' voice through the Holy Spirit also are compelled to follow Him. Hearing is relationship.
Likewise, these Rest Stops are testimonies of what I am learning to hear from the Spirit of Christ, and I am compelled to share His words with you. I heard and wrote the following words in 2003.
YOU LISTENED TO ME
When I felt so alone...
...you listened to me.
When I had a loss for rational words...
...you listened to me.
You didn't have to understand my awkward words because...
...you listened to me.
I was so confused and overwhelmed, but...
...you listened to me.
When I couldn't even listen to myself...
...you listened to me.
I felt like a total failure, but...
...you listened to me.
God felt so distant, but...
...you listened to me.
In my self-righteous anger, I didn't deserve that...
...you listened to me.
In my self-pity parties, I didn't deserve that...
you listened to me.
Some people told me a lot about Jesus, but...
you listened to me.
Some people reminded me of biblical principles, but...
you listened to me.
Promises to pray for me were great, but...
you listened to me.
Some people tried to help me suppress my feelings, but...
...you listened to me.
It was such a dark place, but...
...you listened to me.
I kept seeing a glimmer of light when...
...you listened to me.
Your soothing words were evidence that...
...you listened to me.
Your confident tenderness told me that...
...you listened to me.
Even in our many wordless moments I knew...
...you listened to me.
Even in your silence, I heard you say "I love you" because...
...you listened to me.
I saw in your eyes the compassion of Christ because...
...you listened to me.
Jesus Himself through you met me where I was as...
...you listened to me.
I, like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, had nothing left as...
...you listened to me.
I, like the thief, was crying out for Jesus to remember me as...
...you listened to me.
I began to see my anguish in view of the cross because...
...you listened to me.
A miracle began to happen because...
...you listened to me.
My own eyes began to see Jesus as the Truth because...
...you listened to me.
My own ears began to open to His voice because...
...you listened to me.
Wow! Imagine that. The Creator of the universe...
...He talks and listens to me!
My tears of anguish are turning to tears of joy because...
...He listens to me!
My ears are being tuned to the cries of other hurting people as...
...He listens through me.
Our ears are the key to ministering hope to others if we realize...
...Jesus listens through us!
I'm free!
Jesus is now real to me and to others I listen to
because for just a few brief moments on my journey...
...you listened to me.
CLOSING
I hope you hear Christ's heart through these Rest Stops! He isn't speaking to us from a far-away place. He indwells us to give us His desires and to speak into our thoughts. Listen closely. There is a miracle alive in each of us!
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