Clementine Memorial Church

LISTEN

I heard a story about a young man and an old preacher.  Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem.  Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me, preacher, why doesn't God answer?"

The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply, something so hushed it was indistinguishable.  The young man stepped across the room.  "What did you say?" he asked.  The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper.  So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair.

"Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you."

With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more.  "God sometimes whispers," he said, "So we will move closer to hear him."  This time the young man heard and he understood.

We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem.  But God's is the still, small voice, the gentle whisper.  Perhaps there's a reason.

Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper.  God's whisper means you must stop your rantings and move close to Him, until your head is bent together with His.  And then, as you listen, you will find your answer.

Better still, you find yourself closer to God. And there is no better place to be.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22-23)