This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. By using this site, you consent to the placement and use of these cookies. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more. ACCEPT

The Shepherd’s Voice

Our Lord said that His sheep would know His voice; but when it comes to discerning your vocation, you’ve probably found that it’s not as simple as it sounds. How can you tell if what you’re hearing is God’s voice?

If you keep in mind a few characteristics of God’s voice, it is more likely you will be able to discern which is the voice of the good spirit (the Holy Spirit, your redeemed self, or the redeemed world) as opposed to the voice of the evil spirit (Satan, or the part of yourself and the world still in need of redemption.)

It is important to recognize that these principles apply to someone who is working for good: advancing God’s reign, working for the sanctification of souls, especially his own, doing the will of God.

God’s voice always urges us toward the better good. Of course, He will never urge us to do evil, and a good end never justifies a bad means, no matter how good your intention is. The difficult part is to discern the good which best leads to the extension of His Kingdom and the sanctification of souls.

God’s voice gives confidence and hope. He challenges us to conversion, and sometimes it is painful for us to respond, but He always does so in a loving manner. The voice of God does not give despair or self-loathing. If you are moving from bad to worse, the voice of the good spirit will cause you to be spiritually unsettled by your situation. However, a person moving from good to better will hear the voice of the good spirit giving confidence and hope.

God’s voice does not bring confusion; God’s voice is one of clarity, for one who is moving forward in goodness. If you suffer confusion, stay strong in the decisions you’ve made in spiritual consolation and pray. Pay attention, rather, to that voice of clarity, and do not allow yourself to be swayed by spiritual confusion.

God’s voice always gives peace. Even when what He asks is painful, or difficult to accomplish, following the Shepherd’s voice will always bring peace of spirit.

While it is necessary to be able to know and understand God’s voice above all, it is also important to know the other voices that you will hear.

If you have basic virtuous habits, the good spirit (your redeemed self) will incline you to desire such things as changing the world around you for good, selfless and heroic action, serving Jesus. But the evil spirit (the part of us that still needs to be redeemed) prompts you to doubt yourself and your abilities.

The voice of the evil spirit (the fallen world) tells you to trust worldly things rather than God. It urges you to value self-importance, money, power, self-determination, and things more than you should. This is a relatively simple voice to recognize, but the allure of worldly things is sometimes extremely difficult to resist, especially if you are not in the habit of identifying and resisting their attraction. The good spirit (the redeemed world) will, instead, prompt you to desire to bring about the reign of God in the world in a selfless way. The voice of Satan can be more difficult to distinguish. He will try to directly tempt you away from listening to God’s voice; but if you are working to resist him, he will try a more clever tactic. He will appear as an “angel of light”, offering a lesser good than what God has prepared for you, making it seem as though you could be happier with that lesser good. For example, God may be prompting you to commit to a certain amount of daily prayer each day, but the evil spirit tries to convince you to play sports with your friends. After all, playing sports can be good, and besides, the voice claims, your good influence may help your friends to convert, right?

Similarly, while it is good to be repentant for one’s sins, the evil spirit will try to use excessive feelings of guilt, shame, and self-loathing to make you despair and turn away so that it seems that you are removed from God’s mercy. But the good spirit will convince you of the abundance of God’s mercy, and prompt you to go to confession.

Take some time in prayer to consider how you hear these different voices, and what effects you let them have in your life and your discernment, and possibly bring this to spiritual direction. You will find that paying attention to these voices and influences can allow you to more clearly follow the Shepherd’s voice in an otherwise confusing situation.



hemp gummies vs cbd | tegen cbd gummies reviews | cbd green leaf gummies | cbd gummies inflammation | get condor cbd gummies | kiva cbd gummies | can you od on cbd gummies | cbd gummies with food | cbd gummy enhancement | cbd gummies legal in sc | sience cbd gummies | cbd gummie tine to work | thc cbd gummies for mood | cbd capsules or gummies | 500mg cbd gummies groupon | cbd bloom gummies | rejuvazin cbd gummies | leva cbd gummies price | viagra penis enlargement | newart penis enlargement | enlarge penis naturaly | male enhancement testo xp360 | 50 cent penis enlargment | any true way to enlarge penis | penis enlarge at home | drake penis enlargment | male enhancement california | slim gummies it works | keto acv luxe customer service | weight loss pills near me | slim candy keto gummies price | the strongest diet pill | does g6 keto gummies work | kelly clarkson gummie diet | best rated keto pills | premier keto gummies scam | diet pills walgreens | super thin keto gummies | keto drops plus acv gummies | cvs pharmacy diet pills | what is the best keto gummy | keto slimlife gummies | prime fuel keto gummies | healthy keto gummies usa | keto acv blue gummies reviews | weight loss pills on nhs | diet pills withdrawal | male enhancement samples | slim keto acv gummies review | goldbee cbd gummies | malergira male enhancment | vegan keto gummies | how to beast cbd gummies | biogenix rx male enhancement | x10 keto gummies | gummies thc or cbd | penis enlargement tutorial | quick result diet pills | cannabitz cbd gummies | man dies penis enlargement | ace keto acv gummies 340 mg | just cbd gummies price | best gel for penis enlargement | celebrity diet pills | cbd cbn thc sleep gummies | goliath advanced male enhancer | is keto gummies a con | cbd gummy bear 12 pack | the firm male enhancement pill | keto optimal max pills | power cbd gummy | bee sting penis enlarge | do diet pills actually work | earthmed cbd gummie | leopard honey male enhancement | destiny weight loss gummies | essence cbd gummies | fifty shade male enhancement | keto acv gummies boots uk | cbd gummies amarillo | best cream for enlarge penis | trubody acv keto gummies | relieve cbd gummies dr oz | titan x male enhancement | zepbound weight loss pills | true formula cbd gummies | texas size male enhancement | are royal keto gummies a scam | reviv cbd gummies 300 mg | penis head enlarged | chinese weight loss pills | cbd gummies joe rogan | vianex male enhancement pills | ketoviva keto acv gummies | essentia cbd gummies |