Last week I mentioned watching a spectacular sunrise while I was in Baghdad, Iraq (see “From Clouds to ‘Sonrise’”). What I didn’t mention was how quickly I lost the majesty of the sunrise by a petty distraction.

As I was watching the sunrise, I saw a black BMW sedan out of the corner of my eye. At the embassy compound, there were, like, a gazillion black BMWs, but at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, there were only two, and one of them was driven by our cultural advisor, Jay. I watched as the vehicle pulled into the passenger terminal parking lot and drove to the far end. I continued to watch to see if I could identify the driver, but it was too far away to get a good look. By the time I turned around, the sun had gone behind the clouds and the moment was lost.

I began to reflect on how many times I’ve allowed myself to be distracted by trivial things, especially when I am having my “quiet time” (devotion time). When I sit down to spend time with God, all sorts of distractions arise. I hear that email, text message, or breaking news alert, and I just have to see what it’s about or who sent it. From my study window, I see a stream of distractions: local high school students running back and forth during their gym class; an elderly couple out for their morning walk; the neighbor’s cat going to the bathroom in my flower bed (my irritation level begins to rise). One morning a huge hawk flew between my window and a tree in the front yard chasing a squirrel! Don’t even get me started on social media.

Now, my preference would be that God speak from heaven like He did with Moses — a deep bass voice with a little reverberation! That was how I thought God spoke to people, which of course He can. Scripture gives several occasions where God spoke audibly to His Son: at His baptism (Matthew 3:17), on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), and after His triumphal arrival in Jerusalem (John 12:28). But in each of these cases, it was more for the benefit of those who were with Jesus than for Jesus Himself. Jesus was always in close communion with the Father.

I think we have a better understanding of how God speaks to us with Elijah, who had experienced a great spiritual victory. God sent fire from heaven and consumed a water-soaked sacrifice on Mount Carmel. Then he killed all 850 prophets of Baal. He prayed again, and God sent a drought-breaking rain, followed by Elijah outrunning Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel. The following day, Jezebel sent him a message saying “I’m going to kill you” (paraphrase), and Elijah headed for the hills. We find him on “Horeb the mount of God,” the same mountain God gave Moses the Law.

“And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’ 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. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” (I Kings 19:9-12, ESV)

In the Hebrew it is “a voice, a whisper, small.” While I like the King James translation “still small voice,” the ESV is more accurate.

Over the years, I’ve learned God’s voice comes to me in a whisper, which means that I must quiet myself before Him if I want to hear Him speak. In Psalm 46:10, we find this familiar Scripture verse: “Be still and know that I am God” (KJV). Today, people are looking more for The Big Bang than they are the still small voice. It’s easier to have a pep rally than it is a time of quiet and solitude where our hearts are still and open to hear God’s whisper.

I’m not going to guarantee God will speak every time you are quiet before Him, but I do know that He will only speak during the times you are quiet before Him. Frankly, I just enjoy the times of quiet, when I know that He is here with me and enjoys my company, even if we aren’t talking.

Tomorrow, still your heart and listen for His whisper.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!