This article by Matt Leasher really hit home for me this holiday season. It may be something that you want to consider as you kick off your new year. I use to believe and still hear from others quite often, that God doesn’t work these days like he did back then (in the bible). I no longer believe this. God promises in His word that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The real problem is that we are so “busy” and distracted by all of our electronic gadgets (TV, DVR, Phones, Computers, iPods, iPads, laptops, netbooks, ultra books, kindles, radios, etc) let alone all of the other people in our lives (kids, parents, co-workers, neighbors, clients, pets, etc) that we just do not hear him calling.
When was the last time that you just sat and listened for God’s small voice? We are told that he whispers to us on the wind and that he is always there telling us His will for our lives. We just have to slow down, stop, pray and listen. Not for just a minute or two but longer. The first few times I tried this were agony, I will not kid you, but after a while it was peaceful, clarifying, and very insightful.
God wants us to slow down, take a breath and rest in his peace and quiet. Slow down your mind, and truly rest.
He is calling you, he has a purpose for you.
Do you hear Him calling?
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Answering The Call
By Matt Leasher
Many of God’s children have the misconception that being “called by God” means that they are to join the seminary and become a minister or a missionary after a beam of heavenly light has burst into their room and told them to do so with a thunderous voice, however, the truth of the matter is that when God calls on us it is usually in a still small voice and unto the common man – like you and me.
We read in 1 Kings 19:11-13 that God called upon Elijah, the humble prophet, in a “still small voice” when Elijah was hiding in a cave, afraid, and running from further service to the Lord. Elijah had already done great things in the Lord’s name at this point. He had called down the fire of God from heaven to defeat the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, (1 Kings 18:20-40), he had confronted King Ahab to inform him that the drought God had brought on the land would end, (1 Kings 18:1-19) and prior to that he had restored life to the widow’s son, (1 Kings 17:17-24). He faithfully did all of these miraculous things in the name of the Lord God of Israel. But when Jezebel, the evil wife of King Ahab, sought to kill him, he then ran and hid in a cave. What I want to point out here is that God called upon Elijah with a still small voice even though Elijah became weak and afraid. Elijah tuned out the world around him by finding a cave to hide in and it was there that God revealed Himself with a still small voice. Elijah already knew God and knew Him well when God gently called upon him to continue His work. This is a lesson for us as well, in that being a believer is a prerequisite to answering the call of God and He will speak to us in His still small voice if we shut off the world around us.
We live in an age and culture where there are always “better things to do” than spend quiet time alone with the Lord. Anytime there is “free time” it is usually spent on self-entertainment. This age of technology has created a cyber world of self amusement so that when the day’s work is done then we are immediately engulfed in our digital devices whether it be TV, the computer, or our cell phones which have now become mini digital do-it-alls. The younger generation of today find themselves walking into walls because their eyes are constantly glued to their cell phones. They have become slaves to the digital world. They cannot hear that still small voice of the Lord because their minds are always too preoccupied with the cyber world. Back in the 19th century, (which was only 112 years ago), when the day’s work was done the only evening leisure was reading by candlelight. In a Godly sense, these were good days but in a humanistic sense, the technological advancements of today’s society are better days. Society sees itself progressing because of technology but I’ll bet from God’s viewpoint of wisdom, He sees our world setting itself up for self-destruction as a result of technology and most disheartening to Him has to be the lack of attention of His calling via the Holy Spirit.
The problem isn’t just a result of technological toys. The problem is the same old problem it has always been – man’s heart. In this Age of Grace that we are living in the Holy Spirit is at work drawing souls to Christ but the physical means that His work is accomplished is through human vessels. The human vessels that are willing to do this work are those that answer the call of the Lord. God can use anyone that is willing. God is not looking for people that are qualified. He is looking for people that are available.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9a)
God isn’t looking for robots either. He is looking for loyal hearts that love Him and that share in His desire to reach the lost and bring them back to Him. Jesus said:
“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
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