Day 222 - Quiet Worship
Emily Green
““’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?’” – 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT
1 Kings 19 carries one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Elijah, a mighty prophet, was running away from a queen threatening to kill him. He was hiding in a cave, and God spoke to him. He told Elijah to leave the cave, and as Elijah stepped out, the Lord passed by. Elijah experienced a windstorm, an earthquake, and a roaring fire, but God was not in those things. Instead, God spoke in a “gentle whisper,” and Elijah heard it.
We love worshipping corporately on Sunday mornings and worship nights. We enjoy the fog, lights, and loud music. These items play a part in creating a powerful worship experience and an atmosphere for people to connect with God. However, we can never lose sight of the importance of quiet worship. We learn from 1 Kings 19 that God often speaks in whispers, and if our worship time is always loud and filled with our words, it may be difficult to hear His words.
Creating an atmosphere of worship isn’t always about the special effects or volume of the music; creating an atmosphere of worship can be as simple as silence, waiting to hear the voice of the Lord.
Next Steps
- Think about it: When was the last time you were in an environment that was completely silent?
- Action Step: Schedule “quiet time” today. Spend time in complete silence, listening for God’s voice.