Listening for God

1 Kings 19:11-12 - 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.

As we are fervently seeking God's direction for our lives at this point of transition, it is easy to get distracted by all of the noise around us. I think at some time or another, everyone has wanted God to speak to them in a loud booming voice telling them exactly what they're supposed to do next. I know I have. Wouldn't it be so much easier if there was a huge billboard in the sky that told you what to do? Unfortunately, God doesn't usually work this way. I know if God spoke loudly to me, I'd still be focused on my plans and would probably not even give His will a second thought. When He gently whispers to me, however, I'm forced to block out all of the distracting thoughts and focus completely on Him. It's in those times that I can see Him working most clearly.

I'm incredibly stubborn and absolutely hate to ask for help in any circumstance. So God patiently waits for me to try to take care of things on my own over and over until I finally realize that He is the only one who has control of my future. Usually things work out about the time I've finally given up and stopped trying to fix things on my own.

So now I wait and listen. God's speaking.. I just have to be quiet enough to hear His voice.