We have spent the last three days in Berkeley Springs, WV in the middle of the woods in a small cabin. It has been most enjoyable sitting at the fire pit and just relaxing. But most of all it has been spiritually uplifting to sit and listen to silence. Sitting and listening to the creation of God in the middle of nowhere is very soothing and stress destroying. It reminds me of the story of when Elijah was going through a very emotional time of depression and fear. The scripture says that he was hiding in a cave. He just wanted to give up. What he needed to hear did not come in the earthquake or the whirlwind or the fire but it came from the still small voice of the Lord. You have to get away from the noise and distractions of life that keep us from hearing the still small voice of the Lord. We have to separate ourselves from the job. Sometimes the family. Sometimes the friends. Quiet time with God is very needful if we want to get to where He wants us to go. You may not be able to getaway from it all but we can shut down the noise. Turn off the TV. Turn off the technology. Turn of the computer and the iPad. Completely turn off the phone. Find a quiet place and pray and listen for the direction that only comes from the still small voice of God.
I Kings 19:10-13 NKJV, “10 So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." 11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice [came] to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
I Kings 19:10-13 NLT, “10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. 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. 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. 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?"
