April 12, 2022 - 1 Kings 19:11-12

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12 NLT

Lord, we thank you for the different ways that you show up in our lives. When we look at this passage in contrast to the way you showed up and spoke to Moses in Exodus 19:28-29, it is completely the opposite. There you showed up in the earthquake and fire. There it says your voice came as thunder. In this passage it says you were not in the wind, earthquake, or fire. Here your voice came as a gentle whisper. In Exodus, I think your people at the foot of the mountain needed to see your visible power so they would obey the law. When you spoke to Elijah, your voice came in a whisper, and it says you were not in the earthquake, fire, and wind. Gracious and humble hearts are more moved by the tender mercies of God than his power.

Your powerful displays sometimes can make a path for your voice to be heard, but Lord, we want to have hearts that will hear what is spoken in the stillness. Prepare our hearts to hear your voice. Teach us how to be still and calm ourselves so we can really hear the whisper. In our world it is so normal to quickly move from one thing to the next and often we do the same thing in our time with you. We complete the things on our agenda and don’t take the time to be still. Or if we do, it is only for a moment. Forgive us for this and teach us how to be still and listen when we come before you. Lord, help us to never miss your voice.