My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

John 10:27

My family recently visited the National September 11 Memorial and Museum where we took a self-paced tour guided by iPhones and earbuds.

At each different exhibit, the audio guide described the scene before us. The Survivor’s Staircase took my breath away. The salvaged personal items revealed snapshots of countless life stories abruptly ended.

As the tour progressed, I felt the narrative I heard didn’t match the gravity of the scenes before me. I removed the headphones and finished the tour on my own. For the next two hours, I read about selfless acts of rescue and bravery. I saw pictures of the brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers who would never come home.

Later when we turned in our headsets, I noticed a sign announcing the tour was narrated by a well-known actor. After questioning my family, I realized there must have been a “gentler” tour for young children. Apparently, the docent gave us a device for my daughter but didn’t mention it.

Later, as we were talking about the switch-up in our taxi, my husband pointed out that we often do the same thing spiritually. There are many times I’m locked into following a voice but missing the Voice I need most. How many times do I make friends, social media, or my own thoughts my soundtrack?

My Heavenly Father promises to guide me, but it’s imperative that I tune my heart and mind to Him. I must read, meditate on, and know His Word. In His power, I can drown out the lies that come my way by replacing them with Scripture.

Who are you listening to today? How can you take steps to replace the lesser voices with the powerful Word of your Heavenly Father?

Father, thank You for promising to guide me through Your Word. Help me love Your Words more than the other voices vying for my attention.

Whitney