Pastor Leonard Sweet once wrote about a typical Little League coach giving instructions to a young player. If you've ever played, you may remember that voice:

Elbows down. Bat back to your ear. Keep your eye on the ball. Swing!

Sweet makes this observation: "Some voices stay with us forever. What voices have spoken into your life? Can you still hear them? There are voices of encouragement that urge us to keep trying, keep working, keep doing what we know is right. There are also voices that accuse us of not being good enough, of being a failure, of not deserving anything better than what we're getting. The voices we listen to in our heart and soul can strengthen us or shatter us, push us forward or pull us down. The power of the voice we ultimately answer to can determine the destiny and direction of our life."

I hope you have some positive voices in your life. And I hope you are a positive voice for others. But most importantly, I hope you carve out time to listen to the still small voice of God.

That still small voice doesn't shout. It doesn't compete with the noise. It waits. And it speaks most clearly to those who have learned to get quiet enough to listen. In a world that is louder than ever, that kind of quiet is itself an act of faith.

Prayer: Loving God, we know that we need you at the heart and center of our lives. We need your guidance, your direction, and your love. Give us the discipline and grace to listen, and the heart to follow. Thank you for all the voices of love and encouragement in our lives — coaches, pastors, teachers, parents, friends — past and present. May our voices too give grace to all who hear. Amen.

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