Be Quiet & Get Close

“How does God speak to us, Pastor Rick,” I was asked recently, “Does He say, ‘Thus saith the Lord’ like Old Testament times?” That’s a great question but a little difficult to answer. God didn’t always “thunder” from heaven as He did at Sinai. Neither does He speak from heaven and send a dove as He did at His Son’s baptism. I have found, most often, that He speaks rather quietly through His Word. 

For an example of the “soft-spoken” God, I offer you Elijah who, waiting on God, heard a mild whisper [read 1 Kings 19 to get the story]. But why a whisper? I can think of a couple of reasons. To hear a whisper, you must first …

Be Quiet. By that I mean, rid yourself of the distracting noise around you and give your undivided attention to the whisperer. Do as young Samuel did. Quiet yourself before the Lord and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” [1 Samuel 3.10].

Next …

Get Close. The closer you are to the whisperer, the more likely you will hear what is being said. So, get as close as you can to the Lord. That way, you’ll hear every whisper that comes from His lips. Do as James said, “Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you” [4.8].

Be quiet. Get close. Easy to say, but not as easy to do. But, when we do, the rewards are out of this world! 

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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 still small voice. 1 Kings 19.11-12