Loud & Quiet
As I get older, I’ve realized that my hearing has dropped off a bit. There are certain frequencies that I haven’t been able to hear since I was 21 years old. I took the Mosquito Ring Tone test and failed pretty bad. My Dad had hearing damage when he was a young man and he can’t hear very well at all, even with his hearing aids installed.
I have been doing a different kind of listening for many years as well. I like to start my day reading God’s Word simple for me. I listen to Him speak into my heart through His Word. I’ve noticed that as I sit and listen for Him to speak into my life, He uses all sorts of ways to speak. My spiritual hearing has improved dramatically by reading His Word nearly every day.
This morning I came across another event in the life of Elijah. After learning all that he had done on Mt. Carmel defeating the idol Baal in an altar contest, Jezebel, the wicked queen of Ahab sent him a death threat. He fled right away and came to a place where the Lord ministered to him and Elijah went to Mt. Sinai where Moses had received the 10 Commandments. Check this out…
11 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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 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?’ (1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV)
I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the Lord speak to me in a loud way such as a storm. I’m also confident that He has spoken to me in a quiet gentle whisper. I can’t always predict His timing, but I can’t predict His Presence. He is never late. He never abandons or leaves me. I’ve learned that being in His Presence is a difference maker even when He doesn’t say a word or do anything. Spending time with the Lord in the morning is the most valuable use of my time. As I start my day with Him, I have sharpened my hearing because I don’t want to miss His gentle whispers.
Pressing On!
Dwayne