There is much written about how an unborn child can recognise their parents’ voices from in utero and how that ‘introduces’ them to who is safe on the outside. The sound of a parent’s voice can calm an upset infant or toddler in an instant.  The known tone of their voice brings a peace, a security, a calmness that can regulate a nervous system and settle them.

‘The sheep follow him because they know his voice.’ (John 6:4)

How do we know that the voice we hear is from the shepherd? Because we feel calm, peaceful and secure.  The more time we spend listening for and to the shepherd’s voice, the more we know it is the shepherd. Spending time in the quiet, honing our ears to the specific voice of the shepherd.  Listening, sitting, not rushing. Letting the cacophony fall away until there is only one voice left.

Let us take time to sit. Not rushing but waiting until we are certain that the voice we hear is that of the shepherd.  Let us practice tuning our ears to hear the one voice that contains the truth.

by Katherine Gilmore