Lenten Reflection #18:The Gentle Whisper

Throughout Lent we are challenged to listen for God speaking to us in the midst of our lives.  We are invited to listen to God speak to our lives and the areas that we need to give over to Him.  Truly this is a daily part of living in relationship with Christ, not just a Lenten practice but during this time we need to deepen this practice so that it can become a daily habit.

A habit of listening for God's voice.

Elijah is one of the great prophets whose story is told in the Old Testament.  We read about a time when he hears God speak to him in 1 Kings 19:11-13:

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Reading and reflecting upon this passage this morning I am struck by a few things that I think help as I think about listening for God to speak to me.

1. God is with us in the storms and the turmoil of life-- but he is not the source of the storms and that is not his voice.  His voice is not the earthquake.  His voice is not the powerful wind.  His voice is not the shattering rocks or the ferocious fire.  The storm that you are in, just came out of, or are about to go through is not the voice of God.  God is with you but don't think the storm is His word for you.  And don't think he is the source of your storm.

Notice that God speaks to Elijah before the storm and he is to stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord.  The Lord is with Elijah before during and after this incident and he is seen as the gentle whisper and not the storms.

2. God's voice is a gentle whisper.  The King James version says, "still small voice."  We have to listen.  We have to take time to remove all the other voices and noises from our lives so that we can hear God speak.  This is why time alone with God is so necessary.  Are world is always screaming at us.  There are so many voices competing for our ear.  We have internal and external voices that try to keep us from hearing God or try to convince us that God is the storm.

What are we doing to quite the noise and listen to God?

God is with us through it all and if we will listen we will hear him speak to us and lead from the storms of life to still waters.

In Christ's love and mine,
Doug

Comments

Anonymous said…
Good thoughts here, friend. I appreciate you sharing them.

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