A Two-Way Street, October 3, 2011

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Written by Neal Bowes

1 Kings 19:9b-13 And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

¹⁰ 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."

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?"

Prayer is supposed to be a two-way street--a conversation. We should absolutely talk to God, but we should also be sure to listen for God.

Have you ever heard God speak? Where were you? What did God say to you?

We can often miss the voice of God, because it doesn't usually come booming out of the sky.

Elijah had a lot on his mind and desperately wanted to hear the voice of God. Where did Elijah hear it? Do you think that's how he was expecting it?

Life has so much noise and so many distractions: music, the TV, the computer, your siblings, your parents, the telephone, the dog...how would we ever hear a gentle whisper in all of that?

Create a quiet, private place to pray. Read some Scripture, tell God what's on your mind, and wait. Wait in the sheer silence for God's gentle whisper. Give God plenty of time. Don't rush it.