Journey to His Healing: Listen to His Voice

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[Janet Easson Martin]

Listen to His Voice

I cannot be on the right path unless I listen to His voice.  He is THE Good Sheperd who cares for me and protects me.  He speaks to me personally to lead me out.  I follow HIM because I have learned to recognize His voice.  He gives me rest and peace.  He gives me spontaneity, creativity, motivation, and empowers me to receive His ideas and plans for me, so I can carry out what He has called me to do, which are specifically unique for me.  He makes life exciting this way.  I didn't say easy, but fulfilling.  His voice is mostly full of mercy and tenderness.  It is like no other's.  His melody for me is graced with encouragement.  Of course, sometimes His voice is 'fatherly' correcting.  But He voice is never ever condemning toward me.  (It is angry and condemning toward sin and those who refuse to accept Him.)

Satan is the one who tries to accuse and condemn me.  His lies even told me I'll be a 'good christian' if I do this and that, and keep it up, and keep trying with all my might to be a 'righteous' believer worthy of his attention, love, and forgiveness, and usefulness.  Because of the teaching I received in GCI I did this for years, trying to keep their unwritten rules and laws of how to be a "good" "on fire" christian.  I became so tired mentally, emotionally, and even physically that I wanted to give up.  My self-worth shrank, my spontaneity became virtually non-existent, my motivation was gone (except for "the anger of God" and resulting guilt that was pumped into me week after week).  I spent any energy I had left trying to justify my worth before the leaders and "God".

The voice of the Good Sheperd (there is only one who is really good) cheers us on and 'pats' us on the back.  It lifts us up when we fall.  It's love has no limits.  It's mercy no end.  Most importantly, His voice is teaching me that no amount of my own hard work and trying will make me more loved by my Father, more forgiven or more useful to Him.  They are filthy rags.  The only boasting I can do is in what Christ did for me.  My justification is unjustifiable in human terms, and it is scandalous.  Now, that is the only voice I want to listen to.  And, wow. is it a freeing path that is full of care, protection, and motivation!

I want to continue to sit at His feet, not anyone else pretending to be THE GOOD WAY, and listen to HIS Voice.  (Yes, I listen to my Pastor, and mature christians I respect in my church and do other people's bible studies, but I need to talk to Him about what I'm hearing and let him confirm it in His Word.)