Stillness

It is so nice to just sit here with my coffee and think. I believe we have gotten far away from this hobby in our society. I believe not many of us just take time to sit in peace and quiet. At least most people my age, anyway. I think a lot of people realize with age the value of the stillness. But not everyone. We are busy, on the go, and with noise surrounding us. Cellphones buzzing, television chattering, radio singing, kids bickering.

In Sunday School we've been talking about the will of God. How do you know the will of God? Does He still speak to us in a strong, audible voice? Some say they have experienced this and that is wonderful. But for most of us, God speaks in a still, small voice or like a "gentle wind."

Read 1 Kings 19:11-13:
11So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD " And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking 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.
12After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Well, for many of us He'd have to call on our cell or email us before we'd get it!! ;) We expect the earthquakes or the fires, but not the gentle blowing. But if we take advantage of the silent times, it makes it so much easier to hear Him. Of course, we also have to have a meek, teachable spirit and be willing to hear God tell us something different than we thought we'd hear. Adrian Rogers says that sometimes our prayers are like "a person who does all of the talking? They think they're having a conversation, but they're just making a speech." He says "I'm afraid our prayers are like that sometimes. We say, 'Listen Lord, your servant speaks,' rather than 'Speak Lord, your servant listens.'"

My prayer for myself and for anyone who reads this devotion is that this week we would find quiet time to just listen and be still with God and hear Him in the 'gentle blowing.'