Listening Isn't Easy...It Takes Action
Do you ever feel like your life is similar to these verses? There may not be actual wind that can tear mountains apart, earthquakes, or fires, but the chaos around you feels like it. It is hard to hear God speak when we are focused on the chaos surrounding us. With this being said, hearing God takes work on our part. We can’t be living our daily lives looking at the world around us to hear God speak.
The action we need to hear God is actually a void of action, we need to be still to hear God’s whisper or to notice Him speaking to us. In 1 Kings, Elijah is in a cave fearing his life. The Israelites had rejected God’s covenant, torn down His altars, and put the other prophets to death by sword. Elijah was the only prophet left and they were trying to kill him too. The chaos of fear that surrounded him was too much to bear. if he only focused on the circumstance he was in, there would never be any quietness to hear God or feel His presence. The Lord instructs him to go and stand on the mountain and wait for Him, for He is about to pass by. Elijah waits and along comes the strong winds, earthquake, and fire. Then, after all the chaos there is a gentle whisper. Elijah gets up and goes out as He hears this, knowing it’s the Lord.
The Lord is not always easy to hear. We must be quietly waiting His response, direction, and guidance. Sometimes, we get caught up in the day-to-day busy lives the world creates for us, and we forget to pause, be still, and listen for God’s voice speaking to us. God’s whisper is intimate, it is just for you. He knows exactly how you will hear Him and He comes to you privately. Does that make you want to listen for Him? I am always fascinated when I hear God speaking to me because I know how relational He is. He is giving me a glimpse of Himself and proving to me that He hears my prayers and knows me personally.
It also helps to be proactive before waiting in the stillness. Staying in tuned with God through His Word and prayer helps focus on Him more and brings a sense of peace in the waiting. This is why beginning your day with prayer and quiet time with God allows you to focus on Him throughout your day. Pray these verses as you prepare to hear God speak:
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalms 27:14
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7
“Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.” Psalms 38:15
You cannot hear someone whisper when they are across the room from you. You must be near to hear them. This is the same for God. He’s always close by, but you must be near enough to Him so that you can hear Him speak in a whisper. The definition for near is, “close in relation; closely with respect to connection, similarity, intimacy, etc.” Our connection with God is a direct correlation to hearing him. Are you close enough to hear Him whisper?
Digging Deeper:
When have you experienced God speaking to you?
What makes it difficult to be still to hear God speak?
What are ways you can become a better listener?