1 Kings 19:11-13
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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 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?”
I was young in the Lord when the Lord whispered to me. When I got saved I was about 26 years old, my son was just turning 5.
I woke up in the middle of the night and could not go to sleep. I could not shake this "feeling" that I should be doing something but I did not now what. I remember I walked to the dining area near the kitchen and kind of cornered myself near the wall and kept asking God; "Lord what is it, what am I supposed to pray for"? I was young, I did not fully understand how God spoke ( the truth is sometimes I still miss him). I began to call on the Lord and do what I knew best....to pray...I prayed for everyone I could think of; family everywhere and then I think I went back to bed....I can't even remember. BUT, what I do recall is finding myself in the kitchen area again; God would not let me sleep.
Surely, I would know what God's voice sounded like, right? God is so Good! Every time I lack, he is more than enough. His gentle Spirit continued to move me to stay awake and alert. After some time, when I figured I had done all he asked me to do.......a whisper....yes, a gentle nudge....almost as if the Father said, "Walk this way". Remember, in my mind, I was all done, ready to go to sleep. I began to walk to my son's room, even wondering why I would even go in that direction. But God knew.
As I walked into my son's room, now clearly in the middle to the night; everyone else is sleeping....I took a few steps to check on my little boy. Never would have I imaged what I saw. My son sleeping, a little innocent life, just waiting for his mother to obey the "voice of God" as he warned me to check on this child. You see, somehow from above his bed; he had a radio that he would listened to often; the radio electrical cord that was pluged into the wall somehow had managed to wrap itself around my son's neck. Yes, the whisper...though I missed it the first time....I did not really understand how the Lord spoke...I was young; yet in his mercy he knew how to reach me, how to keep my attention...his Spirit ministering to mine, until I obeyed and uncovered the danger that lied right in my son's bed.
I quickly, while trembling and with tears pouring down my face ....unwrapped the cord from around my son's neck. Of course he woke up...startled, for he too was unaware of what was happening. I went back into the bedroom and woke up my husband and began to tell him of God's warning; how he had spoken to me; how he had showed us mercy that night.
I would like to say that I always hear him and that after that night I have never missed a whisper, but that would not be the truth.
I walk this life and have surrendered myself to him, sometimes like Elijah, a powerful man of God who after God had used him in such a miraculous way, found himself running and afraid. As the word of God came to Elijah and told him to stand on the mountain; I wonder what Elijah expected? God was not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. God came in the gentle whisper and Elijah covered his face at the Presence of the Lord.
Yes, it's humbling to know that God would come out to meet me, even after I missed him. It was encouraging to Elijah to know God would strengthen him again even after he had cowered.
I remember running to my bed with my son and now my husband awake too.....opened up his Word and read, I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7.
So, today, listen....listen to the Spirit of God; our Comforter and instructor; the one sent by the Father and the One who testifies of the Son. Not sure if you recognize his voice....go to the Word...sit and talk with your Father....then wait and listen. Just like talking with a Friend, "can you say that again please, I'm not sure I understand". Father, help us.
God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com
