Today’s Scriptures: John 10:27, 1 Kings 19:12, Isaiah 30:21, Revelation 3:20
Breath Prayer
Today we will focus on hearing God’s voice in our everyday lives. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” This truth reminds us that it is possible to hear, listen to, and follow His voice in our lives. Let’s center ourselves and rest in this truth for a few minutes by walking through this breath prayer several times:
Breathe in as you say to yourself: I listen to and follow Jesus’s voice.
Breathe out as you say to yourself: He knows me.
Movement 1: In a Gentle Whisper
Read
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. 1 Kings 19:12
Reflect and meditate
Elijah was in a tough spot. In 1 Kings, we read that he was on the run as people were trying to take his life. He was desperately seeking God. He experienced many things while hiding on that mountain: a mighty windstorm, an earthquake, a fire...but the Bible says God wasn’t in any of those. God was in a gentle whisper. If you read more of this chapter for context, you’ll see that Elijah used the same words to explain his predicament to God - once before the storm, earthquake, fire, and whisper, and once after. Why didn’t God respond to Elijah the first time he explained what was going on? Perhaps God wanted Elijah to connect with Him first - to attune, attach, hear His voice - and then get down to business.
Pray
No matter what you have on your heart or mind to bring to God right now, spend time just being with Him first. Listen for His gentle whisper as He beckons to you. The more we practice seeking Him and listening for His voice, the more familiar it will become to our ears and hearts.
Movement 2: Right Behind You
Read
Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you, a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21
Reflect and meditate
The prophet Isaiah brought both warnings and blessings to God’s people. He reminds us that God wants us to come to Him. He longs to show us His love, compassion, and faithfulness. He wants to help us, and He is gracious when we ask. He knows the best way for us to go, and He longs for us to stay on His path. So, we must ask Him which way to go...and then listen. Oftentimes, we forget that last part. We ask, come up with our own answer, and then implement it immediately.
Pray
Bring to mind a current situation in your life in which you need God’s guidance, insight, direction. Bring it to Him. Ask Him, “Which way should I go?”. Then listen...until you think, “I don’t hear anything, and I probably won’t.” Then listen some more.
Movement 3: At the Door
Read
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20
Reflect and meditate
Jesus is persistent. He stands at the door and knocks...and He keeps knocking. You are His creation, His child, His beloved. He cares too much for you to stop knocking. He also says that if we are His children, we will hear and know His voice. And what an invitation He has for us - He will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. That sounds very inviting! In what area of your life is Jesus knocking? Perhaps you don’t hear it, or you don’t want to hear it. But He’s there, knocking - you can be sure of that.
Pray
On what “door” of your life is He knocking? Be still and listen for His knock. See yourself opening the door, inviting Him in, sitting with Him at a meal, and talking with Him. What does the conversation sound like? Sit there in your spiritual imagination and enjoy this meal with your Savior.