When His Voice Finds Us Again

Readings 072726 

I look around and see people preaching Jesus,

yet sometimes I wonder  

if they truly know Him.  

And that question turns inward—  

toward the quiet place  

where Christ Himself speaks to the heart  

with a voice both tender and true.

He whispers softly:  

“Follow Me…” 

Just two words—  

yet they open a sacred doorway  

into learning to hear Him,  

learning to recognize His movement  

apart from the world, the enemy,  

and even our own pride.

Scripture shows the cost of losing that voice: 

“If I walk into the field—look, those slain by the sword.  

If I enter the city—look, those consumed by hunger.  

Even prophet and priest forage  

in a land they know not.”

When His voice fades,  

even holy people wander  

into places they never meant to go.

Jesus deepens this truth

in the parable of the weeds:  

The field is the world.  

The good seed are the children of the Kingdom.  

The weeds are sown by the Evil One.  

And the harvest reveals  

what has quietly taken root in our hearts.

So the questions become gentle and personal: 

If I truly follow Him,  

does the Spirit ever ask,  

“Do your actions and words  

witness that you are really following Him?”

If I truly follow Him,  

am I living what He instructed?  

Does following Him bring good seed

joy, peace, and comfort—  

even in trying times?  

Or has my idea of following Him  

led me toward the weeds of anger, resentment,  

or darker places I never intended to go?

These questions are not burdens. 

They are invitations—  

invitations to return,  

to listen again,  

to let His voice shape our steps  

with compassion and clarity.

For the Son of Man still sows good seed.  

And when we stay close to Him,  

His life grows in us—  

steady, radiant,  

and true.  

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, 

Teach my heart 

to recognize Your voice. 

Let Your whisper rise 

above the noise around me. 

Guide my steps when I wander 

into unfamiliar places. 

Plant Your good seed 

deep within my soul. 

And let Your peace 

grow steady and true in me.

Amen

 

A Picture for God

 

Readings 072726

My granddaughter Scarlett 

came with a picture she had drawn.

She held it up with pride and said,

“This is for God.”

A little while later, 

she went into the backyard,

lifted that picture high,

and threw it toward heaven.

It fluttered back down.

She looked at me and said,

“Pop… I drew this picture for God,

but He won’t take it.

How do I get it to Him?”

“Let the little ones come to Me.”

A child’s faith is innocent,

pure,

and astonishingly great.

Scarlett had no doubt

that she could get that picture to God.

No hesitation.

No fear.

Just trust.

Jesus tells us that all we need

is faith the size of a mustard seed—

so small,

so simple,

yet like yeast in bread,

it makes great things rise.

But for many of us,

our faith has become worn —

hidden away,

tucked in a crevice,

left to rot and tear.

Not because we don’t love God,

but because life wears us down.

Lift your heart again.

Lift your prayer again.

Lift your trust again.

Even if it feels small,

even if it feels worn—

offer it to God.

He will take it.

He always does.

Prayer

Lord, 

Awaken in us a simple trust

Let our worn faith be lifted again 

into Your hands.

Heal what has torn, 

restore what has faded.

Teach us to offer 

even our smallest gifts with love.

And receive them, Lord,

as only You can.

Amen