Through a
Mother’s Eyes by Diane Cheveldayoff VOICES
T
here are a lot of voices in my head at different times. So, I ask myself, What voices am I hearing? What voices do I listen to? What voices influence my life?
We are all subject to many voices speaking into our lives—some positive and others not. At times, it’s hard to distinguish between the good and the bad voices. We may ask, Am I hearing the voice of God? Yet, let’s take it a step further and ask, Am I listening for the voice of God? Psalm 85:8 expresses, I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; And may they not turn back to foolishness (NASB). We may initially hear God but then dismiss His voice and allow the world to drown Him out and draw us in. How do we really know the voice of the Holy Spirit? That is something difficult that we have tried to teach our girls, knowing that if we could teach them to seek God and listen for His voice, we could be assured they’d be okay—they’d learn to discern the lies and deception of the devil that threaten to draw them with a self-serving agenda and be able to hear what God really desires for them—His righteousness. We can know God’s voice by spending time with Him in prayer and through His Word. Simply put in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (ESV). Influences around us always create evolving and changing circumstances. Our three adult daughters have struck out on their own adventures. As their parents, we enjoy seeing their invigorating experiences, yet at times, standing aside and watching can be nerve-racking. Between the three of them, at least one always has some big change around the corner. They seem to have a knack for the surprise element in their choices, which we have slowly learned to accept and even embrace. But there is one definite conclusion: we’ve raised three very independent and adventure-seeking girls. Ultimately, we desire to live in close proximity to our kids yet, at the same time, want the best for them. Their present-day interests have required them to move far away from us, which has caused
60
