The Whisper of God

If we’re going to cultivate a listening heart, the practice of solitude, which I spoke about in my last post, needs to be joined to a second practice, the practice of…

Silence

Many don’t practice silence before God because they’re afraid of facing their deepest thoughts and feelings. But silence is a good friend to solitude. When you think of silence, you might think automatically of simply being silent, but it’s also about quieting the internal and external noise so you can listen to God — through nature, through quiet reflection and meditation on Scripture. Where prayer is the basic discipline of engagement, where you talk with God, wrestle with God, pour out your heart to God. Silence and solitude are the basic disciplines of abstinence where you stop striving and move away from the noise even if it’s only for a few moments, so you can listen for the voice of God.

I’m always moved when I read the story of Elijah in the Old Testament. The prophet Elijah was a doer, a firebrand, a seemingly unflappable servant of the Lord and God used him powerfully. As I reread his story this past week, I was tempted, once again, to think that the high point of his career came in his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. If you don’t know the story, you really need to read it for yourself.

“How long,” [he said to the people of Israel,] “will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him (1 Kings 18:21).”

When the people said nothing, he offered a test. Two bulls were slaughtered and laid on two altars.

“You call on the name of your god, [Elijah said], and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire — he is God (1 Kings 18:24).”

All four hundred and fifty of the prophets of Baal shouted and prayed and danced before the altar.

“Shout louder,” [Elijah] said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he’s sleeping and must be awakened (1 Kings 18:27).”

It’s an incredibly dramatic story. In the end, in answer to Elijah’s prayers, God sends down fire, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the soil and the water in a trench dug to catch the runoff from twelve large jars of water he had them pour over the top.

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD — he is God! The LORD — he is God (1 Kings 18:39)!”

The prophets of Baal were routed. The people turned their hearts back to God. What a story! Elijah was riding high. Three days later, however, we find him alone in a cave, afraid for his life, living under the threat of death. And God comes to him there.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” 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.” 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…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 (1 Kings 19:9-13).

The Lord was passing by. In my experience, God is rarely found in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. Yes, God sometimes uses dreams and visions. He’ll speak through godly counsel and prophetic words. He’s revealed himself to me in worship and certainly through his Word. But he, also, regularly invites me into silence — to quiet the noise, step out of the traffic — where I can hear his gentle whisper.

I felt God’s gentle invitation to the practice of silence seven years ago. I started by setting a timer for five minutes at the end of my time with God and I thought I was going to die! The first five minutes were the longest five minutes of my life. I wondered if my phone was even working. It was so very difficult for so very long, but God gave me grace to keep trying. I’d fall asleep. I’d get distracted or restless. Listen. If you fall asleep, give yourself grace. You probably needed the rest, and God is not the least bit offended. If you're easily distracted, here’s what I’ve learned. Everyone knows about keeping a paper and pencil handy so you can write the things you have to do as they come to mind. This simple act helps free your mind of worrisome thoughts so you can focus on Jesus. If you get restless, get up and walk around. No one ever said you can’t maintain a listening heart toward God while your body's active. If you need to be active while listening to God, I would recommend you engage in an activity you don’t have to think about, like walking or swimming or driving, for many of us.

Remember, the things we value the most in the church often have the least impact in the kingdom of God. We tend to value the gifted for their gifts or the talented for their talent or the very learned for their knowledge, but it’s often what’s done in secret, the unseen things that make the biggest difference. Might God be inviting you to cultivate a listener’s heart? Might he be inviting you to solitude and silence?