Have you ever heard it?
That still small voice of God warning you, speaking to you, earnestly wanting to speak to you if you'd but only listen?
I've had a few of those experiences, the latest being the tire. I remember as I was walking out of the church with the kids that the Still Small Voice said "Check your tire". But I was in a hurry and wanted to get home with a cranky baby so I pushed it aside and went on my way.
Praise God that He still protected us even though I didn't listen. But how things could have been different if I had.
As I've been pondering this truth, I was reminded of the scripture in 1 Kings 19:11-13:
Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.
When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.
If Elijah had gone out during the wind or the earthquake or the fire, sure devastation would had happened, but he waited, listened, and then when he heard the voice he recognized, he went - humbly.
Often times, I think I get caught up in the wind, fire, and earthquakes of life and don't wait for the Still Small Voice - the Gentle Stillness. How easy it is to be caught up in the things that demand our attention or shake us to the core, but how much more our life would be blessed if we'd but only wait and listen to the Still Small Voice.
How many times have I jumped into the fire of life...too anxious to wait?
How many times have I let the wind of storms in my life carry me away instead of staying sheltered in the ROCK?
How many times have I been shaken to the core by circumstances and felt alone?
In Deuteronomy 31:8 the Lord gives us a promise to cling to:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Lord, thank you for never leaving me nor forsaking me, even when I make poor choices and don't fully listen to you. Please help me to listen and yield more fully to Your Still Small Voice. Amen
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