![]() Almost with a cringe (because you know whats about to transpire for the next 30 seconds or 30 minutes), you say something like “ok, time to shift into our prayer time, anybody got anything we need to be lifting up this week?” What follows is eitherġ. It’s the end of your group’s bible study time. ![]() If you have ever been in any type of small group setting…say a college dorm room bible study, a Sunday school class, maybe just a really long cup of coffee, you have experienced the dilemma I am about to describe. Why do you think that God uses a whisper sometimes instead of a dramatic experience?My favorite time of training new leaders is when we break up into groups and go through various scenarios that they will certainly face in their small groups. What things in your life can make it difficult for you to hear God’s whisper? ![]() How has God spoken or moved in your life in a way that seems like a gentle whisper? How has God spoken or moved in your life in a way that seems like a powerful wind or fire? Perhaps you are just not listening carefully enough. How are you looking for God to respond to your prayers? These are just a few tangible ways that God speaks through a whisper. The pain may not always go away immediately, but He sometimes uses that pain to remind of all that He has blessed me with. I might not feel healthy right away, but He may nudge me toward the help that I need.Ī solution may not present itself to fix my problems, but He can use those problems to make me stronger. Sometimes it is in the little things that God moves the most. It is in those moments that I need to remember that God’s voice sometimes comes in a gentle whisper. I talk to God in prayer and feel and see no change. Sometimes, though, I feel the same way I did during my dropped call with my wife. If I am in emotional pain, I want God make the pain go away. If I need help with a problem, I want a clear solution. If I am sick, I pray for healing and want to feel better immediately. I know that when I am desperately seeking God in prayer, I most often want to hear or see His response in very obvious, visible ways. Sinai in Exodus 19 with winds that shook the ground.ĭespite these patterns, Elijah does not feel God’s presence until he hears the faintest of whispers.ĭo you ever find yourself expecting God’s voice to come in windstorms and explosive fireworks? God appeared in a burning bush to Moses in Exodus 3 and in billows of smoke on Mt. This was a very significant experience for Elijah because God had established a pattern of appearing in these ways over hundreds of years when communicating with His people. First, he looked for Him in a windstorm, then a powerful fire, but God was not in either of those things. Say: In this story, Elijah was searching for God. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave…” And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. “Go out and stand before me on the mountain, ” the Lord told him. I know that God can hear me when I pray, but when His voice feels silent in my life, I sometimes wonder if the connection only works one-way. I was frustrated because I was pretty sure that she was still on the line, but for some reason my conversation was only working one-way.Īfter hanging up and trying again, we were able to resume the conversation, but later I got to thinking about my experience and realized that prayer can sometimes feel the same way. I said her name several times and waited for a response but did not get one. I looked at my screen and it said that we still had a connection. Suddenly, I realized that she hadn’t said anything for several seconds. I had just received some great news and was excited to share it with her. ![]() Say: A couple of weeks ago while I was on a business trip, I was talking on my cell phone with my wife (yes, they do more than send text messages!). Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the… ONE YEAR CURRICULUM, VOL 3 – Save 82% on one year of Bible studies and teaching curriculum for youth ministry. Help students realize that God hears us when we pray. Use this quick lesson to help your youth ministry discover the importance of prayer.
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