A Sound Of Sheer Silence

At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here; Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking 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 sound of sheer silence.

1 Kings 19:9-12

If you follow a regimen of a silent retreat, you will hear from God, guaranteed. We all go through changes, and a silent time is important. Either due to changing ages, financial situations, work, or family, we need to make time for God. We need to ask for guidance on how to prepare our souls for the rest of our lives.

When Elijah stood before the LORD on Mount Horeb, he did not meet Him in the wind, earthquake, or fire. Rather, God spoke to him in a quiet voice. God finds ways to communicate to those who truly seek Him – especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static.

God spoke to me in a rush of wind, and with a single word. How has he spoken to you, and what have you done about it?

God speaks to those who are quiet before Him.

Our Daily Bread – May 27, 2008