And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 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?"1 Kings 19:9-13
Elijah was a mighty man in Israel. He was the only prophet of the living God that opposed the wicked king and queen's religion in a showdown that got national attention. By the end of this showdown, he proved that the God of Israel was the real deal. God worked through Elijah in a mighty way that resulted in the ultimate mountain top experience.
Moments later Elijah was running scared — literally. Elijah saw God's power, yet he became so afraid of Queen Jezebel's fury that he ran from a crowded mountaintop of victory to a lonely cave of fear. Elijah had seen God rain fire from heaven, bring drought, and answer prayers for rain. He saw mighty winds, earthquakes and fires; but what he needed most was a gentle whisper.
Often times, we look for God's direction in huge, miraculous events in our lives. But life with God was designed to be more than just mountaintop highs. There will be times when God will miraculously deliver us, yet there will also be times when he quietly affirms his presence in our lives with a gentle whisper of guidance.
Satan knows that it is hard to hear the gentle whispers when the pressures of life are screaming. And he will do everything in his power to raise the decibels until the whisper is drowned out. That is why it is so important to take some time to get away from the screams of life. If you don't, you might not hear the gentle whisper that is so desperately needed. In 2008, the key to your ability to hear the Lord will not just be in the big bangs. It will also be ins the quiet whispers. Stay tuned to God through solitude. It detoxifies the soul!
A Prayer for Today
Lord, thank you for always being real and present in my life. Sometimes my life can be so out of control when I can't easily hear or see you. Help me slow down so that I can hear your gentle whispers of guidance in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
