Week 2 - Listen & Learn | Day 10
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
SCRIPTURE - 1 KINGS 19:11-18
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. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
OBSERVATION
Elijah became deeply distressed and overwhelmed because he believed he stood alone in Israel as the only person still faithful to the Lord. He came to the mountain hoping God would act in power and fix everything. He looked for God in the wind, earthquake, and fire, but God didn’t appear in any of those things. Instead, the Lord spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper.
The way God wants to work in our lives isn’t by magically fixing everything. It’s by speaking to us. When we listen for God’s gentle whisper, He gives us perspective and direction. What God told Elijah was that there actually were 7000 people who were still faithful to God. Elijah’s perception of his circumstances wasn’t fully accurate. Elijah wanted God to fix his circumstances. But God wanted to fix Elijah’s perspective.
God then replaced Elijah’s despair with a mission. Elijah was hoping for an escape from his problems, but instead, God gave him direction on where to go and what to do. Just like God gave Elijah a path forward, He has one for you as well. He doesn’t always take us out of our circumstances, He brings us through them. And when we listen for His voice, He can turn what may seem bad into something He can use for good.
APPLICATION
Instead of waiting for God to change our circumstances, He wants us to listen for His voice. Before we become overwhelmed or anxious, we can seek His perspective. God can show us the truth about our situation in ways we could never see on our own. He may not bring an instant fix to every problem we face, but He will bring peace and understanding when we turn to Him.
How might God be wanting to work through you in what you’re facing? Take a moment to reflect on how you have approached your situation and how you have spoken to others about it. Do your words and actions in those moments reflect God’s perspective, or yours. When we adopt God’s perspective, He uses us to bring His solution. He invites us to be participants in what He is doing, not just observers. And when we listen for God’s voice, seek His perspective, and follow His direction, he will provide a path forward.
PRAYER
Today, take time to slow down and listen for God’s voice. Ask Him to speak to you about whatever you’re walking through. Bring each situation before Him and ask Him to give you His perspective. Pray that He would show you how He wants to work through you as you follow His will.
God, thank you that you choose to work in my life by speaking to me. Help me see my circumstances the way you do and reveal what is true about what I’m facing. Give me direction in where to go and what to do, and use me to accomplish your will. Amen.
If you haven't signed up yet to receive our daily devotional, you can text 21DAYS to (469) 817-9977
Lord, I ask that You would continue to let Your Spirit guide me, Father God.
Give me spiritual ears to hear and eyes to see what You have for me as we step into this new year.
Even though I don’t know how it will end, I choose to trust You—placing everything in Your hands.
As I truly listen and obey, I believe it will end in victory, because You never lose a battle.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I LOVE His gentle voice..because
He loves us
Thank you Lord for giving me the courage to pray for a complete stranger on the street. It breaks my heart to see this young man asking for money day in and day out. Father I ask you to please deliver him from whatever keeps him away from you. He knows you Lord, he acknowledged that you’re his Father. In your sons name I pray. Amen 🙏🏽
It has taken me many years of trying to do things my way and continuing to go around the same mountain over and over again (Joyce Meyers)...but one day it was revealed to me that I was in a prison of my own making... continuing to use coping mechanisms from my childhood.
The Lord helped me see how very much I had allowed the enemy to deceive me and when that was clear...."Oh NO...you will not have me"..were my words whenever I started to have negative feelings...and on the other side of this new found freedom I found JOY and PEACE trusting fully and completely in the LORD!!
We are all human and subject to the enemy's willy ways....but if…
In my circumstances I am having to just be quiet, not respond and not even defend myself.
Waiting on the God to answer me and defend me to others has been very challenging and lonely.
I do know that in Gods wisdom he is keeping me from chaos and relationships that will not be beneficial to me and is preparing the perfect job that will work perfectly for my family.