The Lord is in the whisper

“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. “

So this scripture was going through my mind today.. I truly cannot tell you the last time I was reading 1 Kings.. but it was not at all recently.. I heard the words and then had to look up the passage because I did not even know where it was in the Bible.. The reason I was hearing these words is because I finally understand, at least a little bit, about what it means that God is in the gentle whisper. For me it was the revelation that the big things that we hope will reveal His presence often do not happen.. we want the big miracle or sign that He is with us.. that proves to us  He is present in our circumstances so we do not fear or falter. If we read about the life of Jesus in the NT we find that all those signs and miracles still left the disciples and others wondering. Who is this man? So obviously they don’t always have the desired effect.

God has been revealing His presence through small things that are big to me.. I see Him at work in my circumstances through the way people are stepping up to help me over and over again. I see Him at work when He brings me back to scriptures that speak to my heart over and over again.. when He answers prayers that I barely remember praying.. when He shows me that He is at work behind the scenes and all He is asking is for me to trust Him with everything!!.. He is constantly whispering ” I am with you and I have your back.. I will deliver you and fight the enemy for you.. come to me with everything and trust that these whispers are saying … I love you with an everlasting love”   ( Jeremiah 31)

In John 4 Jesus said this to the Samaritan woman at the well.. and it is for us as well.

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

Lord.. give me ears to hear those whispers.. to recognize your voice and to drink the living water that you are offering me.

Streams of Living Water…

We are desperate for this life giving water that God promises us.. our hearts long to be filled up with the living water that flows from His throne. I don’t claim to understand it all.. but I know that He supplies everything that is missing in us. His life in us is what keeps us safe and directs our steps.  It mystifies me that we find ourselves so dry..absolutely parched..unable to even speak.. when all we need to do is go to Him.

He longs to fill us..to flow through us..to use us. Yet we resist and we keep trying to meet our own needs.. to be our own source. It never works..we are slow learners, aren’t we? Our God is so faithful and patient.. He waits for us to be ready..to come closer.. to drink deeply. He knows when we cannot.. when we will not.. He accepts our reluctance and He never abandons us. He made us and He understands the human heart.. our weaknesses and failures.

I really need a drink of that amazing water today..tomorrow I may need even more.

“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”‘

Water for my soul..

Remember when Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman at the well? I’m sure you know that passage in the gospel of John. He is at the well with this woman and he asks her for a drink of water. She’s surprised by his question since the Jews did not associate with Samaritans. He is not bothered by that and continues to speak with her. He captures her attention and offers her something much better than a cup of water. He says to her “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

I love this scene. Living water is such a rich image. Our hearts hunger for more.. just as hers did. She was tired of her life and her mistakes and her emptiness and He offered her the water of life. He spoke to her with love and compassion.. pouring the balm of Gilead on her wounds. Our God offers us this same living water.. He longs to fill us to overflowing. He meets us in our dry season with a fresh glass of that living water. He has a pitcher that is always full and if we need to drink and drink and drink.. He will provide all that we need.

All we can do is come to that fountain of life with empty cups and admit our need. To fall down in a heap and cry out for relief. He waits to meet us.. to saturate our souls with the real thing that comes straight from His heart to our weary soul. Fill us up Lord, we need you.

Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”