The Voice of Truth

I was talking with a friend this past weekend about words from our past that were damaging to us.  We both had an example of something a teacher had said that had a detrimental affect on us even years later.  Those words, spoken by a teacher, made us doubt our abilities.  They made us overly sensitive to criticism.  Words are powerful.  Once they have been spoken they can not be taken back.  They can be apologized for, but the words are still out there threatening to haunt us if we let them.  Words can either build us up or tear us down.  Depending on how much value we give to these words, they can shape our personalities and mold who we become.

The conversation with my friend got me thinking about the voice we need to be listening to.  God's voice.  The voice of truth.  The voice of the world can tear me down and cause me to lose hope.  But the voice of God can build me up and instill hope even in a hopeless situation.  When the world tells us lies we need to remember that we are precious in God's eyes.  He's the one we should be looking to for approval. 

The voice of a pimp makes a girl feel like she is worthless.  Like this is what she was made for.  He creates an illusion that he is there for her to lure her in and then will verbally and physically abuse her to gain control.  He continually tears her down until she is hopeless for any other kind of life.  I pray that each and every one of these girls will be exposed to the voice of truth rather than the lies of her controller.  That someone could speak truth into her life and give her hope.  That she would know that she is precious in God's eyes and he loves her more than she could ever imagine.

I love music.  The lyrics can be so powerful.  I often use the lyrics of a song to demonstrate the point I am trying to make in my post.  So I present you with the lyrics to another great song...

The Voice of Truth - by Casting Crowns 

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!
"You'll never win"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth