The LORD said, “Go out. Stand on the mountain in front of me. I am going to pass by.” As the LORD approached, a very powerful wind tore the mountains apart. It broke up the rocks. But the LORD wasn’t in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake. But the LORD wasn’t in the earthquake.

[12] After the earthquake a fire came. But the LORD wasn’t in the fire. And after the fire there was only a gentle whisper. [13] When Elijah heard it, he pulled his coat over his face. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”

1 Kings 19:11-13 NIrV

Yesterday’s study, “A Conversation with God,” taught us to have an emotionally honest conversation with God, so we can exhale, and give God a chance to speak.

There is one thing to remember about God: when he speaks, more often than not, it is in a whisper.

I Kings 19:11-13 describes a dramatic moment when God tells Elijah to stand on the mountain, because He was going to pass by. The scripture says the Lord approached, then a powerful wind broke up rocks, with an earthquake following, and then a fire came; but only when the “gentle whisper” arrived did Elijah understand he was in the presence of God.

What can we learn about God and ourselves? First, God knows that as human beings we like the dramatic, so he provides drama through incredible events from time to time.

Second, God knows what we really need is the “gentle whisper.” Although we want a big show, what we really need is an intimate conversation, and when we are at our weakest, that intimacy must come in the form of a “gentle whisper.”

Although we want a big show, what we really need is an intimate conversation.

The goal of today is to see God in the encouraging stream of sunlight waking you from your sleep, all the traffic lights turning green to speed you on your commute, the perfect song engendering the best memories as you shop during the holidays, or in that moment of quiet with family and friends when you realize your good luck.

God leads us back with a whisper, not a bang, so make sure you are listening.

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As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.

Deep Spirituality Lite, Day 6: The Whisper of God 8

As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.

Our first book is officially live.

Rebuild your relationship from the ground up with He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.

Deep Spirituality Lite, Day 6: The Whisper of God 9