Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13 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...
Devotion: There is this description of Jesus in the book of Revelation where He is described as a glorious warrior upon His return. His voice is described like the sound of rushing waters. If you have ever been close to a large waterfall, you know how loud it can be. It can be difficult to even talk over, as water hurtles off a cliff, landing with a thundering, constant clap as it hits the water at the bottom. The volume level of Niagara Falls is approximately 90 decibels. To put this into perspective, that is like constantly standing next to a lawn mower. The point being this description of the voice of Jesus causes us to believe that it is loud.
And it likely will be. But in the meantime, as God speaks to us, He often speaks quietly. Think about our story from the book of 1 Kings for today. Elijah is out on the mountain, anticipating the Lord’s passing by. A powerful wind that tears the mountains comes through, an earthquake happens, and a fire erupts, but the Lord was not in any of those. After each of these events, there was a gentle whisper. That was the voice of God.
In order to hear that whisper, we must learn to be still. We need to embrace a slower pace. As Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” If we rush through this life, allowing ourselves to move at breakneck speed from one thing to the next, we might miss it. We might miss the subtle nuances of God’s voice. If He speaks gently, and in a whisper, how can we hear Him if our lives are marked by busyness? Instead, in a desire to abide in our Savior and hear Him, let’s have slow feet and slow plans. Let’s rid ourselves of quickness to instead hear His gentle and quiet voice.
Reflect:
- Do you find yourself caught in the busyness and quick pace of life?
- How do you set aside time to slow down and listen for what God is saying to you?
- Listen to “Slower I Go” by SEU Worship and Essential Worship- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHUNZsff5YA
