I posted a blog a few years ago about trying to find some quiet time between a college campus and a hotel. There was not a solitary place to be found in either location on that particular day. There was definitely no silence to be seen.
Now, as we are knee deep in a time that should be centered on quiet contemplation of the entry of our Savior into this world, we are combated by noise on every side and motion that will not allow us to be still.
I have not been out and about a whole lot, but my few forays out have shown me people that are “over-everything-ing.” There is over shopping, over indulging, over spending, over imbibing, over socializing. There is over stimulation of all our senses. We are over stressed, over tired, and over cranky. The reason for this season may still be slightly visible somewhere out there, but we have placed ourselves in the middle of it where we should have placed Christ.
I wonder what would happen if we put Christ back as the center of this Christmas season, if we truly got the true picture of what a sacrifice it was for Christ to just come into this world, even apart from His final sacrifice? I wonder if it is just too much to expect that people might actually slow down and seek some silence to be able to hear from this Christ child.
We see in 1 Kings 19:10, Elijah is hiding in a cave. This was after he had prayed and watched God send fire down to consume the sacrifice before King Ahaz and Queen Jezebel. Then he ran away in fear. At this point he is discouraged and downcast. He is telling God that all of Israel has abandoned Him and he feels that he was the only one left to serve God and they were seeking to execute him. This seems too much for Elijah to handle.
In verses 11-13, God teaches Elijah a great lesson, a lesson we may all need to embrace. We see in verse 11 that God instructs Elijah to go out to stand on the mountain before the Lord, in His presence. As he obeyed God’s command, there was an extreme and mighty wind that passed by. It tore at the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before the Lord. But he did not feel the Lord’s presence in the mighty wind. Then after the wind subsided, there was an earthquake. But again, he did not feel the Lord’s presence in the earthquake.
After the earthquake passed there was a fire. Still he did not feel the Lord’s presence in the fire. Finally, after the mighty wind, the earthquake and the fire, there was this still small voice.
Ah! This! In the still small voice Elijah felt the Lord’s presence surrounding him. When he heard the voice, he put his face in his cloak to shield his eyes. He went and stood in the opening of the cave. Then he heard the whispered question from God asking him what he was doing there in that cave.
How many times in this special Christmas season do you step away from the mighty winds, the earthquakes and the fires to find a quiet place to listen for the Lord to ask you what you need?
For those that are attempting to follow Christ in this day and time the challenge within this passage could be to get away from the noise long enough to hear God’s voice and to realize that we are not alone even on our loneliest days. God always has people out there ready to listen when He speaks. It will never be, “just me.”
How can we apply this to our lives? We should make an effort to listen for that still small voice and stop trying to always find God’s presence in the loud, booming sounds around us. Maybe spend more quiet time and less time seeking fulfillment through other means. Sometimes God uses the quiet and simple over the loud and miraculous.
My faith is strengthened by knowing that God will come to me in those intimate, quiet moments, just as He does in the loud and miraculous…maybe even more.
Lord, help me listen for Your voice in all that I do. Help me to cultivate those moments when You will whisper to me gently and quietly, but visibly. I pray that my spirit will be open to Your voice in any form and that I will be able to see Your presence in my life.
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“11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 