Deuteronomy 30:20 “…love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.”

I want to hear Him.

Listening can be difficult at times.  Life gets loud and complicated.  But deep calls to deep (Ps. 42:7).

Earlier today my home was quiet.  I asked the Lord to speak through me as I typed my first blog on this site.  I listened with my heart and I spent much time bringing thoughts and Scripture together.

Everything I typed….disappeared.

No explanation.  Just gone.  As hard as I tried, I couldn’t retrieve it, from my computer or from my brain.

Big, big sigh.  This, my first blog on my own site, just vanished.

While I was drawing near to God, while I was listening, while I was absorbing….things took a turn.  This was not the plan I had.  I was going to click a button, publish those words, and there you have it.  But I just couldn’t make it work…

That’s what happened to me in life.  Life took a turn.  Things were going along relatively smoothly.  But then cancer.

I didn’t want to shift this way!  I wanted things to go along the way I envisioned.  Was life now clouded and dark and hard?  Would the good memories of joyful times just disappear, like my typed words, as if they hadn’t happened?  It really depended on my trust in the One leading me.

My Shepherd is Jesus.  I know His voice.

 “…His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.”  John 10:4

My Shepherd promises me that He works all things for my good.  He promises never to leave me or forsake me.  He promises purpose for my life.  I want His purposes to be mine.  (Romans 8:28; Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 138:8)

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”  Proverbs 19:21

Following my Shepherd even when life takes a turn, that takes pliability.  Trust is key.  Listening in the midst of the noise is important, and can be difficult.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…”  Psalm 95:7

I have come through surgery, radiation and chemo.  Things are looking good at this point.  I will keep clinging and praying and listening.

As I bring this new blog to you, my friends, I will be seeking HIM.  I will be looking to bring words of wisdom, of encouragement, of real life.  I want to be pliable as I do it.  After all, I am following the Leader.

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By the way, in the middle of the night, after a bit of sleep, the first blog I wrote started coming back to me.  I got out of bed, typed it up, and it will come next time.  Things didn’t go the way I planned, but there was purpose in it.  After all, the blog above wouldn’t have happened if things hadn’t taken a turn……

– Susie Stewart

(My blog from the last 7 months:  www.mylifeline.org/susiestewart)