Listening for God in the Silence

Listening for God in the Silence

1. Be still and prepare to listen to God. Acknowledge your desire to listen. Release the cares of the day. Breathe deeply and welcome the Spirit into your inner being.
2. Slowly read through to this account of Elijah, God’s prophet, who was running from Jezebel and longing to hear God speak to him. From 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NRSV) of the Old Testament.

“An Angel said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

 Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking 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;

 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire;

 And after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here?’”

3. Spend some time in quiet reflection on how God communicates with you. In your own life, what circumstances, relationships or ideas seem like great winds or earthquakes… Which parts of your life make the most noise?… Which parts of your life consume you, as a fire consumes anything in its path?… Spend a few minutes reflecting on the ‘sound of sheer silence.’ What would that be like for you?… What would it be like to hear the ‘gentle whisper of God?’…

(Source: Seeking God Together: An Introduction to Group Spiritual Direction. By Alice Fryling.)

If you would like to chat further, please reach out to me at laura.lies@streamsgrace.com