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The world is a noisy place and as we turned the calendar to a new year, it became clear it was about to get even noisier.
The news can be found 24/7 on many channels, social media is constant, and the internet is full of information. All of it seems to clamor for our attention.
We are pulled in several directions at the same time, and often to places we don’t even want to go.
There’s a story in the Old Testament which is one of my very favorites.
Elijah, in fleeing for his life, has an encounter with God. The Lord tells him to go out on the mountain and stand there. As he was standing there, Elijah experienced a windstorm which was so terrible that the rocks were torn loose. But the Lord was not in the wind.
He then experienced an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake either.
After the earthquake, he experienced a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
After the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
(1 Kings 19:12, NIV)
In order to hear the gentle whisper, we must still ourselves. Often we need to lean in close so that we catch every word which is softly spoken.
The winds, the earthquake, and the fire could all be experienced by others. But the gentle, small whisper? It is meant for the audience of one. It is heard only by the one to whom the Lord is speaking, to the one who is listening.
We need to push aside the noise so we do not get distracted from what we most need to hear – the gentle whisper of God.
We need to become better at listening, tuning our ears for His small, still voice. Listening will require that we make time and space to still ourselves, even our own thoughts, so we can better hear His thoughts.
Listen for the gentle whisper of God
for He is longing
to speak into your life.
Reflection:
How can you carve out some time today to sit in quietness and listen for God’s whisper?
Ask Him what He is longing to speak to you.
Image by Republica from Pixabay
It's getting harder and harder in this noisy busy world to be silent and listen... thanks for these words especially: We need to push aside the noise so we do not get distracted from what we most need to hear – the gentle whisper of God.
ReplyDeleteMary, it is getting harder. We must keep stilling ourselves and listen for the Lord's voice. The thing is this - we all listen and hear something. If we don't drown out the noise, we will be hearing and absorbing it. The Lord longs to guide and encourage our souls so we do not grow weary. Blessings, sweet friend!
DeleteThis speaks to me in two ways: 1) That God calls us to places where we will be buffeted and shaken, and that 2) The only way we can make it through God's callings with peace and assurance is to listen for that still, small voice - to stand with Him in the shakings and hang onto His calm because only then, will we get to where God is taking us and do the things He wants us to do. God called me into a different place this year - and there has been opportunity for heart-felt answered prayers and blessing - but I had to be willing to weather the growing, the learning, and Satan's words trying to shake me away, but I continually have listened for that still, small voice - and, oh, how sweet the blessings!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful testimony, Maryleigh. When we are willing to follow as the Lord leads, and continually listen, the blessings will come.
DeleteThis is so good Joanne. We must be intentional with finding time to shut out the world and wait on the Lord.
ReplyDeleteYes, it really does come down to being intentional with our time.
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