Listening For God's Whisper

Sharon Foster, Australia

Back in 1990, I had become a disciple in the Campus Ministry of the London Church of Christ, less than 5 years later I left God. Fast forward 25 years, I was now living in Sydney, and late one night after listening to a lesson on Joshua from old sermons on the Sydney Church of Christ website, I heard this small, quiet voice just say “you need to do something, it’s now or never” I really believe that this was my last chance as my heart had become so hardened by living a sinful life, I felt dead inside spiritually. So, I sent a short message on the ‘Contact Us’ part of the website, thinking, OK, I’ve put it out there now, I will have to do something eventually not expecting to get a response almost instantly inviting me to church. So, the next Sunday I turned up and started studying the Bible again; I was restored the following month, June 2019. I had always thought God would have to do something big, frightening and dramatic to help me come back to Him, but it turned out to be a gentle whisper.

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." – 1 Kings 19:11-12

devotional

Elijah flees and seeks God on Mount Horeb, this is where Moses saw the burning bush and where God gave Moses the Law. Important things seem to happen on mountains in the Bible. When I think of mountains, I think of their majesty and the beauty of His creation. They’re also “closer” to the heavens and usually away from other people, so no distractions, and a place where you can be still and connect with God.

My mind is busy from the moment I wake, thinking about all the things I have to do, accomplish that day, including my quiet times with God, another thing on the checklist of my life – read my Bible – tick, pray – tick, right, now the next thing on my list.

Recently though, I’ve been learning about the need to dedicate time to just being still, meditating and contemplating God’s word, listening to what His Spirit wants to teach me. This is challenging for me, my mind is all over the place, I’m task orientated and get caught up in the “doing” instead of just “being” with God, making space for God to speak to me.

Wind, Earthquake, Fire – these are often referred to as “Acts of God” in our world and yes, God is the Creator, all powerful and has used these forces of nature throughout the Bible to demonstrate His power. I can often view God through the prism of significant others in my life and so expect Him to punish me or “strike me down”; something dramatic, big, bad, that I deserve because of my sin, my failures each day to live up to my performance based Christianity. Like Elijah, when I have been despondent, feeling hopeless, it is God’s gentleness, kindness, patience that I’ve experienced instead. (Romans 2:4)

We live in a world where we expect and want everything instantly – answers, money, pleasure, success but as disciples, the Bible teaches us about waiting on God, persevering, continuing to seek Him even when we think He is silent, realising His “silence” doesn’t mean inactivity (Romans 12:2). I’m an impatient person who loves being in control, God’s timing is often not my timing, but while I wait on Him, continue to go to Him, He is teaching me more about who He is and teaching me more about trusting Him, especially when I don’t get the answers I want.

reflection questions

• How can the busyness of my life or my mind keep me from hearing the whisper of God?

• What things have I been avoiding or putting off amongst the chaos and chatter of life?

• Make time this week to sit quietly and listen for God’s voice