Voices

   As we have entered this new year of 2012, along the way of life we will hear many voices vying for our       attention. These voices will be trying to tell us the way we should go to enjoy a successful life. Which of these voices will we choose to listen to. The bible tells us which voice to listen to and the right way to go for success not only for this year, but for all of life and throughout eternity. Let's look at what the bible has to say about the voice we should listen to. Remember God created us so He should know what is not only good for us but also what is best for us. The book of Psalms tells gives us God's choice of which voice to follow and which ones to avoid. Psalms 1:1-6 (NKJV) 
¹ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
⁴ The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
⁶ For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Three voices we are to avoid are mentioned in verse one. First voice to avoid is the voice of someone who does not know God or rejects God in all they do. These are the ungodly. They follow their own reasoning and leave God out of all they do. Don't listen to this voice for it will lead you astray and into many problems. The next voice to avoid is the one who is living his life without regard to God's instructions found in His word. This is the voice that says if it feels good, do it without regard to the eternal consequences attached to that decision. That voice will destroy you! Then there are those voices that always criticize and run down what everyone else does. They are the scornful, they never see anything good about anything. And they never do anything themselves but complain. All these voices will lead you into much misery and pain and suffering. So what voice should we listen to.

In verse two of Psalm 1 it says that the wise voice to hear and follow is God's voice. His voice is His word, the Holy bible. God says we will be blessed if we not only read His word but we also meditate on it. That means we take time to stop and think about what God's word is saying to us and our lives for today. We may find a commentary a good aid to help us understand better. There are also many new translations to help you better understand God's word. The New Living Translation is a good one. The E.S.V. is also good. E.S.V. stands for the New English Version. Some like the N.I.V. Whichever one helps you to understand best is the one to buy. The result of following God's voice as He speaks through His word is found in verse 3, Psalms 1:3 (NKJV) 

³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
We shall be immovable in the face of whatever comes our way. We shall lead a productive life and we will never wither or become unproductive and whatever we do shall prosper. This is why we must read and study God's word and then apply God's word to our everyday life. In other words we do what the word of God says to do. If we listen to God's voice as He speaks in His word, it not only blesses us now but throughout all eternity. We will stand in the congregation of the righteous when this life is over. In other words we will be in heaven with God and His saints. These are the reasons we would be wise to listen to God's voice as He speaks through His word. That's why it is important that we daily read His word and meditate or think over what He is saying to us individually. He will never lead us astray nor the way we should not go. God can not lie so we can trust Him at all times. What have you got to lose by listening to God's voice except many sorrows and troubles. His way is the pathway to His favor and blessings. 

If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins and invited Him into your life you will not have His guidance in this life and you will wind up in Hell. God doesn't want that for you and in His word He tells you and I that He sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world for the purpose of saving us from the penalty of our sins. John 3:16-18 (NKJV) 

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Let Jesus lead you into eternal life by asking Him to forgive your sins and save you from Hell. Then go to church and be baptized and begin to worship and praise God from there. Let God's word guide you. You will be glad you did.