Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Listening For God's Voice - He Speaks To You In A Whisper

My Utmost For His Highest
 
When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. —Mark 4:34
 
“Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. […]The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. […] Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires” CHAMBERS
 
Many people call getting alone with God, quiet time.  It is a time when you quiet your mind, your spirit.  You turn your full attention on God. It is during those times that you will hear God speak most clearly. (1 Kings 19:11-13) “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”  A still small voice.  When God speaks you must be listening.  Elijah was hiding in a cave, fearful that harm would come to him.  In one moment he was focused on God and the next moment he was focused on himself. In one moment, focused on what God could and did do, and in the next moment, afraid that he was doomed, alone, without hope.  Sound crazy? Or does it sound like you?  It is the nature of man.  It is a struggle to not depend on our own abilities.  And when we do, realizing that we are facing the impossible, we look for a cave to hide in.  Seek the Lord where He may be found.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Trust in the Lord and not yourself.  ELGIN
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
 
Charley Elgin

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