Early on the morning of May 6, 1985, I was awakened by a very real and distinct voice saying, "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people." The words were repeated several times, then the voice said, "Get up and write."
I finally jumped out of bed, got a pen and pad, and wrote out one and one-half pages of words of comfort and protection. As I wrote, I felt I was once again a private secretary taking dictation from my employer. The writing ended with "Thus sayeth the Lord." The words were beautiful, but I little understood their meaning at the time.
One week later, on May 12, I was again awakened by the same voice saying "Let My people go" - get up and write. Again I wrote non-stop, this time two pages. Almost all of the articles I have written to date have begun this way, most requiring only the care of a secretary to guard against errors. They contain incidents from my past, people I have known, and things He has taught me in the past and recent present.
Today is March 22, 1987, and this morning I was told to write about my new Friend. I have been awakened many times since that first morning, but today the reality of that voice and presence is something He asked me to share.
Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be a "Counsellor." (Isa.9:6). A Counsellor is one who gives advice and guides our thoughts. If we can tune in to the voice of this One with the perfect advice and guidance, we will have wisdom in all circumstances. The reality of the Person behind my own counsel has been driven home this morning.
He is the living "Word" (John 1:1). He is "God with us", which is the meaning of the word "Emmanuel" the name Isaiah prophesied would be His 500 years before He was born (Isa.7:14). Emmanuel is also the name God's angel gave His earthly father, Joseph, for the unborn child (Matt.1:23). Jesus is really all of God's words in written and living form, alive among us. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Jesus is alive and here with me as I write this!
Jesus is called a Shepherd. Long before His birth, the psalmist wrote, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Ps.23:1). Before this birth then, He was the Word and the Shepherd, which shows us His true nature as the Son of God. He is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (Rev.21:6). In other words, He and the Father are one even though He lived as a human in our world. He is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Heb.13:8).
A Shepherd guides his sheep so they won't get hurt or lost. Sheep are rather dull-witted animals. So are we! We prefer to find our own way through life, stubbornly refusing help. Small wonder our world finds itself in such disarray with a sheep-fold ignoring the existence of its Shepherd. Our Shepherd goes ahead of us to check out the terrain to see if we can hear His gentle voice. He wants to warn us of up-coming problems or a thought-pattern that will cause trouble sooner or later. He tells us through friends, through the written Word, through a church, or just through a thought in our minds. He is there ready to lead, but we stiff-necked sheep refuse to listen. Each sheep is of special importance to Him and His infinite patience with each of us is overwhelming!
Jesus is my new Friend. I can now be sure He truly IS alive, and truly DOES speak today to those who are willing to listen. He awakens me in the mornings because He can't get my attention any other time. But if I fail to obey Him or if I think I can somehow produce these articles on my own, He will by-pass me and find a better secretary to take His dictation! I must remember I am only a sheep who must listen to my Shepherd.
© 1999, Doreen Palmer