Hearing Voices

Father:

There are so many voices out there today competing for the attention of these your men who stand and preach. There’s the voice of politics wanting us to take a side or a stand. There’s the voice extremism pressing us cut off those on the other side.There’s the voice of negativism wanting us to preach as if You are not strong enough to ensure the future of Your church. There’s the voice of evil wanting us to respond in kind and compromise Your love. There’s the voice of doubt wanting us to leave our audiences confused and in peril. There’s the voice of fear, whispering that our job security depends on silence, that we should soften what must be said in order to be safe. There’s the voice of compromise, asking us to shave the edges off truth, to water down love, to accommodate the crowd. There’s the voice of insecurity, pushing us to preach angrily, hoping our volume might cover our uncertainty. There’s the voice of entertainment, telling us to keep it light, keep it short, keep it funny—at all costs. There’s the voice of applause, pressing us to please people, to keep people happy, more than we seek to please You. There’s the voice of weariness, wanting us to quit because, well, we’re tired. There’s the voice of resentment, tempting us to preach from our hurt(s). 

And then there’s Your Voice. Calling us to be ambassadors of simple, clear Truth. Your voice wanting us to shine Light into darkness. Your voice reminding us the Gospel is Good News. Your voice telling us to preach truth in love. Your voice reminding us that it will all be OK if we are true to You. Bless these Your men today as they strive to be Your voice to those they preach to today. 

In Jesus Name,

AMEN