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CHALLENGING VOICES.
For every word you receive from the Lord, the devil will always rise with an alternative view. One way to ascertain the voice of the Lord are the voices that rise to compete with it. Praise God still, because; no matter how these voices come, no matter how they sound, no matter the conflict that set in with them, Scriptures affirm that “the Lord is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea” Psalm 93:4. One reason why the devil can never be idle, is because the Lord keeps speaking. He works tirelessly proffering alternate views to whatever the Lord says, all in a bid to make the Word of God of no effect. Praise God! Let every man be a liar, let every devil be a liar, God remains true forever. The Word He has spoken shall surely prevail. The Lord gave a Word to Adam in the Garden of Eden and before long the devil came with a completely different dimension. No matter how the enemy comes, it is up to you the way you decide to go. Unlike the devil, God will not force His voice on you, He simply makes you willing.
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These competing voices come into different forms. There is the voice of reasoning that stands to contend with the voice of God in your life. With God, it doesn’t have to reasonable to be true. Often time, you will discover that the voice of God does not always appeal to reasoning. You cannot contact God by your reasoning, you can only cpontact God by faith; for we live by faith and not by sight. To some, the gospel of the cross is foolishness, yet “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” 1 Corinthians 1:21. If you seek to align the voice of God with your reasoning before obeying it, you will end your journey in regretful disobedience.
Another potent voice that rises to compete with the voice of God in your life is the voice of the flesh. The voice of God often time comes to exact on the allowances of your flesh. The flesh will not always find the instructions of God palatable and you discover that there is a deep rooted struggle within; seeking to counter the Word you have received from God. The voice of the Lord does not always come carving easy routes for us, but, the flesh will always carve the easy out. Man is ever soft on himself and will always work to avoid anything tasking. One of the highlights of God’s voice detested by the flesh is sacrifice. If you seek to go with God’s voice, then you must brace up for sacrificial living.