Devotional
Be Silent Before Him
By Chris Ganter
Have you noticed how noisy life is these days - electronic noise, people noise, cars and trucks? It is so hard just to find a quiet space in your day. Even as I sit here, early in the morning, writing this article there is the noise of the computer fan and early morning vehicles moving off to work. Have you also noticed how we have become a people of interrupters? It’s hard to have a conversation with someone today where you can finish what you have to say without being interrupted by someone trying to correct you or to throw in their two bobs worth before you have even had your say? I put it down to the TV age and to the deterioration of good manners in our society – a lack of respect as it were. Now we all fall into it as par for the course.
I was amused to be reading in Habakkuk 2 a story which is filled with activity, of men and nations. In the middle of all this furious activity and resultant noise a clear voice cries out “Silence.” Listen to Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him. It’s almost like God yelling out at the top of His voice, “Quiet!”
I wonder how often God feels like telling us all to be quiet and listen to Him. To not listen to God is to treat Him with distain and not respect that He is God. We often call the time we set aside in our day as an appointment with God our “quiet time”. We call it that, mainly because we just need to come aside from our normal activity and spend time alone with God.
But it is also because part of our quiet time with God is to be quiet and listen to Him. We need to stop and quieten our souls before Him and listen to His still, small voice. This is dramatically portrayed in my devotions the other day in 1 Kings 19 the story of God speaking to Elijah, And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
1Ki 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God has got something to say to us if only we will listen. He wants to speak into our lives and just enjoy being with us. He also wants to give guidance and help in our walk with Him. He is a God who loves to spend time in those special quiet times with us. How about you? Do you love to spend your special quiet time with Him?
God bless and all my love,
Chris
Have you noticed how noisy life is these days - electronic noise, people noise, cars and trucks? It is so hard just to find a quiet space in your day. Even as I sit here, early in the morning, writing this article there is the noise of the computer fan and early morning vehicles moving off to work. Have you also noticed how we have become a people of interrupters? It’s hard to have a conversation with someone today where you can finish what you have to say without being interrupted by someone trying to correct you or to throw in their two bobs worth before you have even had your say? I put it down to the TV age and to the deterioration of good manners in our society – a lack of respect as it were. Now we all fall into it as par for the course.
I was amused to be reading in Habakkuk 2 a story which is filled with activity, of men and nations. In the middle of all this furious activity and resultant noise a clear voice cries out “Silence.” Listen to Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him. It’s almost like God yelling out at the top of His voice, “Quiet!”
I wonder how often God feels like telling us all to be quiet and listen to Him. To not listen to God is to treat Him with distain and not respect that He is God. We often call the time we set aside in our day as an appointment with God our “quiet time”. We call it that, mainly because we just need to come aside from our normal activity and spend time alone with God.
But it is also because part of our quiet time with God is to be quiet and listen to Him. We need to stop and quieten our souls before Him and listen to His still, small voice. This is dramatically portrayed in my devotions the other day in 1 Kings 19 the story of God speaking to Elijah, And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
1Ki 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God has got something to say to us if only we will listen. He wants to speak into our lives and just enjoy being with us. He also wants to give guidance and help in our walk with Him. He is a God who loves to spend time in those special quiet times with us. How about you? Do you love to spend your special quiet time with Him?
God bless and all my love,
Chris
Posted in Devotional