LISTENING FOR GOD’S VOICE
By Carolyn Dale Newell
And a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the 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 still small voice.
1 Kings 19:11b-12 NKJV
Do you ever feel broken by the demands life puts on you? Are you shaken by the stress of a strenuous schedule? Do you stand watching your plans go up in smoke around you?
The Lord was not in the wind or the earthquake, nor did Elijah see Him in the fire, but He spoke in a still small voice. Elijah heard nothing in the midst of thunderous rattling. Only in the peaceful quiet did he hear the Lord’s voice.
Sometimes, this world gets too noisy, and we cannot detect the whispers of God. We need to get away from the clamor, the stressful job and the demands filling our day. Doctor appointments, home fix-ups, car repairs, dinners here, and meetings there. Before long, you are exhausted. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Your responses are short and often unkind. You feel the weight of the world crushing the breath out of you.
Satan will dish out as long as we try to manage, but soon, something will give. Like a hot pot of water on the stove, we eventually reach our boiling points.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Daily, we must be still and hear His voice. We cannot allow our overscheduled lives to push time with our heavenly Father out. We need to pray. We need to read our Bibles. We need to meditate and hear from Him.
Sounds wonderful, but how do we find the time? We schedule it. We say “No” to some things and some people. We entrust situations to God instead of bearing the burdens alone.
Take a Jesus break, before your burdens break you. What cares can you cast into the capable arms of Christ today?
Father, You didn’t design me for busyness. When I skip my time with You, my life is chaotic. Remove the chaos. Grant me wisdom to rearrange my schedule. Help me say, “No” when necessary. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read 1 Kings 19:9-18.
HIKING THE TRAIL
Pencil in a time on your calendar or on your smart phone to take that Jesus break. Prayerfully examine your life. What responsibilities can someone else handle? What are the priorities, and what can be put on the back burner? Don’t allow sinful pride to keep you from asking for a helping hand.
Copyright 2016 Carolyn Dale Newell.
A Mountain of Faith 