Clay in the Hands

How does God speak to you?  Yesterday, I mused about the possibility to God communicating with us through text messaging – how cool would that be?

I have been wrestling with this topic for the past week.  I think God speaks to us in many ways.  God uses the Bible to inspire and teach us how we should live.  I have felt God moving in me through the words of pastors and teachers.  I have heard God through the wise words of friends.  I have felt God’s presence through nature.  There are many, many ways God speaks to us.

Regardless of how God speaks to you, I know two things for certain.  The first – scripture must be the test of what we feel God is saying to us.  God will not tell you something that is contrary to what is in the Bible.

The second thing I know for sure is this: you will never hear a thing if you aren’t listening.   How well do you listen?  Do you make time to slow down long enough to hear?

Listen to this passage in 1 Kings 19:11-13, about Elijah hearing from God:

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.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

I love the phrase, “for the Lord is about to pass by!”  What a breath-taking image.  God is about to come near – are you ready?  As Elijah was waiting to hear from God, there were a number of amazing things that happened and Elijah looked for God in those things but God was not there.  Elijah finally heard God in a gentle whisper.

Sometimes God has to shout to get our attention.  But more often than not, God speaks to us in gentle whispers – nudges – simple impressions, just to let us know we aren’t alone.

God is about to pass by – are you listening?