That I might not hear the voice of the charmer.
Whose voice do you listen to the most? Whose words have the most weight and power in your life? Today in my Lent devotional there was a phrase from a Puritan prayer written centuries ago, that resonated with me, “That I might not hear the voice of the charmer.”
This prayer: “That I might not hear the voice of the charmer.” is far more intimate than if we prayed, “That I might not heed the voice of the charmer.” Far more than strength or will power to not heed: listen to, believe or act on the lies of the charmer, he prays, to not even hear it! That is powerful. [Tweet “Far more than strength or will power to not heed: listen to, believe or act on the lies of the charmer, we can pray, to not even hear it! That is powerful. “]
“That I might not hear the voice of the charmer.”
A voice that is not invested in our best. A voice that causes us to doubt God’s faithful, unfailing Love for you and me. God whispers, shouts, writes, reminds, shows us His love on a daily basis in the very rising and setting of the sun! It is an unconditional “I know all about you your daresay secrets and deepest fears” and adore you still kind of Love.
The voice of the charmer wants us to question this Truth.
We need only look to the events of this coming week to see the powerful actions compelled by God’s love. As we enter Holy Week, I invite you to pause and listen to the Voice of Truth – Love made visible in the utter act of will, and sacrifice that led Jesus to Calvary.
I wonder about the voice of the charmer in the Garden of Gethemene. The taunts during the trial and the cruelty of the beating Jesus endured. I wonder how the Father whispered truth to Jesus’ heart and mind along the road to Calvary; or how the Spirit gave Him comfort till the very last moment, when Jesus cried out, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?”
The voice of the charmer is crafty and unexpected, watch for it as the story unfolds this week and in your life through the day. Turn from it and pray that we too might not hear (or heed) the voice of the charmer, but instead cling to Voice of the One who Loves us more than we can fathom.
How does the voice of the charmer whisper to you and what is you best defensive action in those moments?
