June 23 – Recognizing God’s Voice

 

John 10:27

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

SITREP:

Who do you listen to when chaos hits—your instincts, your past, your pain, or your Savior? Wisdom is about recognizing God’s voice above the noise of the world. Listen carefully, and follow His leading.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of skeptics and followers alike, describing Himself as the Good Shepherd. His imagery is simple, yet profound. In ancient Israel, shepherds knew their sheep by name. Their flocks weren’t driven—they were led. The sheep learned to recognize the voice that guided them, protected them, and called them to safety.

Jesus isn’t just offering guidance—He’s declaring relationship. He knows His sheep. And the sheep—those who belong to Him—tune in and respond.

Breaking Down the Verse:

“My sheep listen to my voice” – This implies intimacy and trust. You can’t hear His voice if you’re not close. You won’t follow it unless you believe it’s worth following.

“I know them” – Not just as a group—but individually. Jesus knows your scars, your struggles, your story.

“And they follow me” – Listening turns into action. Following Jesus is not passive—it’s movement, obedience, and trust under pressure.

How This Sharpens a Soldier’s Faith:

In war, recognizing your commander’s voice in the heat of battle can be the difference between survival and disaster. The same is true in your spiritual life.

There are a lot of voices trying to command your next step:

Guilt whispering you’re not worth it.

Regret pulling you back to old failures.

Culture shouting for your attention.

Trauma trying to convince you to shut down.

But Jesus speaks too. And His voice doesn’t shame—it calls. It cuts through the fog with clarity and purpose. And He doesn’t shout over you—He waits for you to draw close enough to hear Him.

You’ve followed orders in combat. Now the question is—will you follow your Shepherd in the aftermath?

When you feel lost, listen for His voice.

When you’re unsure, let Him lead.

When the battlefield is now your own mind, let His truth cut through the static.

You don’t have to chart your course alone. The Shepherd knows the terrain. And He’s calling you by name.

ENDEX:

Discipline isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. John 10:27 is your call to lean in, listen, and follow. Let Jesus guide your steps like a warrior listens for the voice that leads him home. The noise is real—but so is His voice. And He’s speaking to you.

AAR:

When life gets loud and the battle gets chaotic, whose voice do you recognize—and follow? John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” That’s not about casual belief—it’s about relationship, recognition, and response. So ask yourself: are you tuned in to the Shepherd’s voice, or have you let the noise of stress, temptation, and distraction drown Him out? You’ve followed commands under fire before because you trusted the voice giving them. Spiritually, it’s no different. If you’re struggling to move with clarity, it might be time to turn down the world’s volume and get reacquainted with the voice that leads you to life.

Following Orders from the One Who Knows Your Name

You’ve responded to commands from voices you knew—you didn’t hesitate, because their authority and relationship were built over time. John 10:27 speaks straight to that kind of trust and recognition. For the combat veteran, this verse reframes faith as more than belief—it’s a practiced ability to hear and follow under pressure. The Shepherd doesn’t shout over the chaos—He calls His own. And those who are truly His don’t need perfect circumstances to obey—they just need to hear that familiar voice. You weren’t trained to wait for comfort before moving—you were trained to follow orders. Jesus knows your name, your scars, your story—and He still leads you. Tune in. Lock on. Follow fast. The voice that called you out of darkness still speaks.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.