Human Beings have many chances to hear and talk to people, things, animals, situations, you name it, we’ve talked to it or tried to get it to talk to us in some form of fashion. It is ingrained in who we are. Communication is so important and we need that to have any connection to what we do, who we are, or who we have relationships with. If I never spoke to my friends or family…at all…how would they know what I needed? On the other hand…if I only talked to my friends and family, but never listened…well…we can all agree that this would not be a great relationship, right?
This is so true to God and our relationship with Him. Prayer often consists of us talking to God, but do we ever try to listen to what He is saying? When I was counseling, I remember one of my favorite questions to ask had two parts: (1) do you pray to God? If they said yes, then I would ask (2) what does he say back to you? Often…too often actually…I would get strange looks. Many had no idea what I was saying – and I counseled at a Christian university. Some would say yes, He spoke to them through His word. Great, yes! Reading the word is such an amazing tool and an essential way to understand God and hear his “voice,” but it isn’t the only way. To have an evolving relationship with God, we need to understand that still small voice.
Let’s look at an even in Elijah’s life from 1 Kings 19:9-13:
There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
The idea that there were 3 great events that made a big impact – a windstorm, an earthquake, and a fire, but God did not come in those forms. He came in a gentle whisper. Elijah had spent enough time conversing with God to understand that there is a Gentleness to his voice. I think, those of us who do not understand or know the voice of God, may not fully understand that God is truly a Gentle Father. To those that don’t, do this for me – next time you get that “feeling” that you should go a different way home or get a “feeling” that you shouldn’t go out with that crazy friend…think about how this could be God’s still small voice leading you down the safe path.
Prayer: I am so thankful, Father, that you operate in such a gentle way. In your Greatness, you could come in the shock and awe of fire, windstorms or earthquakes, but you don’t. You come in the gentle nudging and notions that are so sweet and tender. In that part of your character, we see your unconditional and unfailing love for your children…for us. Please, dear Lord, help each of us understand that still small voice even better than we do now so that we may know you more. In your Son’s name, King Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Be Blessed Everyone!
Boldly Radiant 