Celebrate Recovery Weekly Encouragement 11-22-23

Be Still and Listen: Hearing the Voice of God

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV)
"And He said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."

God doesn't always speak to us in the way we think He will. In our busy and noisy world, we may expect divine revelations to come in powerful gusts of wind, earthquakes, or flames. However, the scripture from 1 Kings highlights that God often speaks to us in a still, small voice – a low whisper that can only be heard when we quiet our minds and truly listen.

Listening to God demands intentionality and patience. Like Elijah, we must distance ourselves from the chaos of our daily lives and turn our hearts toward the Lord. This is not always easy. Our lives are filled with distractions, our minds filled with worries and plans, and our hearts filled with desires and fears.

 Yet, within the low whisper of God, there is a peace and wisdom. To listen is to open ourselves to Him. It’s to venture into a space where we lay down our understanding and pick up His. The more we learn to quiet our hearts, the clearer His whisper becomes.

Set aside a quiet time with God each day where you can silence the outside world and tune in to Him. This could be through prayer, meditative reading of the scriptures, or simply sitting in silence. Remember, listening to God isn’t about completing a religious task — it is about seeking relationship with your Creator. Like any developing relationship, it requires time, patience, focus, and openness.

Prayer:
Father, help us to seek You wholeheartedly, intentionally setting aside time to be still before You. Teach us to quiet our minds and open our hearts, so we may hear Your still, small voice amidst the chaos of our world. Guide us closer to you each day, and let Your wisdom resonate within us. Amen.




Brian Willems CADC1
Ministry Leader
Celebrate Recovery
New Life Community Dinuba