In the story of Elijah in 1 Kings, the nation of Israel had turned to idolatry in worshipping Baal, "god of fertility and lord of the rain cloud." God sent Elijah on a journey to oppose Baal worship and the people who practiced it. God revealed Himself to Elijah in mighty ways. He was first miraculously sustained through ravens-an unlikely source of sustenance to say the least. Then God commanded a poor widow to feed him. She had only a handful of flour and a little oil. Yet God promised that this small amount would last until the drought was over. The son of the woman then became ill and died. Elijah took the son and asked God to bring him back to life. Verse 32 says, "The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived." The next mighty act was performed when God sent Elijah to confront Ahab on Mt. Carmel. 1 Kings 1: 21 "Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." He challenged them to offer up a sacrifice to Baal, to come to them supernaturally and light the sacrifice. They called on Baal all morning with no answer. So Elijah called all of the people together and built the altar for his sacrifice. He had them pour jars of water over the offering and wood to show he wasn't pulling any tricks. Verse 36 says, "At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." The Lord proceeded to send His fire to burn the saturated sacrifice, wood, stones and the soil. 39 :When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord-he is God! The Lord-he is God!"

Over the next series of events, Elijah realized that even with all of the miracles that had just been performed, people were still worshipping Baal. He grew so desperately weary, that he resorted to hiding in a cave. When the word of the Lord came to him asking him why he was in the cave, 1 Kings 19:10 "He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken 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." 11 "The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.'" The Lord sent a mighty , forceful wind but He was not found in the wind. He then sent an earthquake, and Elijah, having just seen all of the mighty miracles performed, fully expected the Lord to be found in the earthquake. He wasn't there either. After the earthquake, He sent a fire in which He was not found. Instead of revealing HImself to Elijah in any of the former mentioned mighty ways, He instead chose to show Himself through a "gentle whisper." Elijah had just been through such a mountaintop experience, that he failed to remember that God can also come in a gentle whisper.

I think that we Christians often do the same thing. We expect God to show up in shockingly big ways, and in waiting for the show, we fail to hear His sweet whispers. It would be much easier if God would just plop Himself down in our lives and shout His power so loudly we couldn't miss it! He has to get so frustrated with us as He is constantly speaking to us about things that are on our hearts, and yet we continue to ask Him to give us His words! It's so hard to filter everything else out, but when you're able to focus on Him, and listen ever so closely, He will meet you there! At times He sends a sweet friend who has been listening to Him, and allows that friend to say exactly what He needed you to hear. Other times, He might use a pastor, television, radio, internet, whatever source He thinks will reach you. And still at other times, He speaks directly to our hearts! As I've been in greater need of being able to discern His voice over ALL else over the last several months, I've come to pray for Him to make it crystal clear for me. I confess to Him that I might need several different reminders. I admit that I'm pretty pathetic and ask that He continue to show me His ways until I get it! Today is one of those days, as I can already tell that my mind is on a million things I need to get done in a matter of time that is insufficient. It's on these days that I truly risk not hearing that sweet, gentle voice. "Heavenly Father, please let me not miss one thing you have to say to me today! You know that my mind is on so many things, so please help me to hear that small, gentle voice. I don't need shock and awe, don't need You to come in an earthquake, wind or fire (please don't actually). But I do need for You to remove everything else that might be in the way of my hearing You! I so long to hear You Father!" Listen closely...