Opening your life to God’s Word on a consistent basis over a long period of time will slowly but surely begin to shape your thoughts, perspective, attitudes, and actions. You will start out just reading God’s Word and it will eventually begin to read you! God’s truth will challenge you and help you to see as God sees! Watch how God’s perspective will begin to influence you in ways you never imagined! Stick with the plan! Open your heart to God and He will transform you from the inside out!
In His Love,
Pastor Jerry
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. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.
1 Kings 19: 11-15
Elijah has heard from God often. He has seen God display his mighty powers. Elijah, fresh off of the most victorious days in his illustrious career as a prophet is informed that Queen Jezebel has put out a death warrant on his life. In this very difficult moment, Elijah does not get a word from the Lord. He runs for his life and winds up hiding in a cave out of fear. He is tired…..worn out….ready to hang it all up. God corners him in that cave and speaks. While Elijah is used to God pulling out the fireworks when it comes to ministry, this time is different. God is not found in the violent wind that whips its way through the mountain pass. God is not found in the earthquake that shakes the very ground upon which Elijah stands. Then a blazing fire explodes before him and Elijah thinks that God will speak through the fire. He just lit up an altar at Mt. Carmel in an amazing display of His splendor and power. Not this time! Instead, God speaks through a “gentle whisper”. Literally translated, a gentle whisper means the “sheer silence”. I love this passage because I believe God is always seeking to speak into our lives but does it in a way we least expect. We are so used to the noise of this world that we are constantly looking for God’s voice to come booming over the loud speakers of our lives…..above the chaos around us. We look for the burning bushes and the miracles of Mt. Carmel. We get so busy with activities and all of our energies are devoted to projects, goals, accomplishments, and even mindless entertainment to the point that our senses are dulled or oblivious to the way in which God speaks in “sheer silence”. God is always speaking to us; our lives just get too loud
Why did Elijah hear from God in the silence? Why did Jesus oftentimes step away from the crowds to lonely places? It is because God oftentimes seems to speak the loudest in our most quiet moments! Is your life rushed at such a frantic pace that you can hardly hear the folks around you….much less God? Does your daily living seem to merge into life’s bumper to bumper chaos? Have the noises of this world drowned out the heartbeat of God in your soul and perspective? You will most likely sense the “still small voice” or “gentle whisper” of God in your life when you take time to draw aside from the chaos long enough to be still…..to turn down the volume of this world and your own selfish pursuits. Start today to set aside a quiet time every day. Maybe it is on a daily walk or jog. Maybe it is sitting on the beach at daybreak. Maybe it is out on your back porch when you have some alone time. Whatever it takes……….give the chaos and clutter of your life the stiff arm. Be still before God and listen for His heartbeat…..for the gentle whisper……as He speaks through His Word and through the stillness of your life. This moment will become the power supply of your day and the beginning of an intimate journey with your Heavenly Father!
Lord.....help me to quiet my life long enough today to hear from You! Amen.
Beach United Methodist Church
325 7th Avenue North
Jacksonville Beach, Florida, 32250
904.249.2343