God never fails to be in what I deem as the mundane of my daily routine.
Because of my boys’ fascination of them, ducks are a common interaction in my life. I took the boys on our regular walk to a pond the other morning. There’s a nice open area with flat stone steps that Ace has discovered as the perfect rock throwing spot. He’ll crouch to the ground picking up rocks until his two little hands can’t hold any more, and put his balance (and his mama’s blood pressure) to the test as he climbs down the steps right to the edge of the water. Usually, his goal is to see how far he can throw them or how big of a splash he can make.
This particular morning a group of ducks made their way over to join Ace’s self-proclaimed splash zone. He excitedly pointed and waved at the ducks. Then two seconds later, in true 3-year-old boy form, swooped down, grabbed a handful of rocks and chucked them with all his might out to the ducks!
As he bent down to find some more, I quickly stopped him trying to explain to him we don’t throw rocks at animals because it could hurt them and they don’t want that.
As I pointed out at the victimized ducks and looked closer, I realized they were eating the rocks Ace had just thrown and swimming closer eager for more! These persistent birds were cramping on the lesson I was trying to teach my son. He looked up at me with confusion as if to say, “Well mom, if it could hurt them and it’s not really what they want, why do they come back for more?”
Great question.
We can act the same way when we’re trying to learn and listen to God’s voice in our lives. Too often, we chase after other voices that hurt us and really aren’t what we want. We make a habit of eating rocks.
In 1 Kings 19, a prophet named Elijah is depressed in a dire situation. He’s desperate to talk with God and hear from Him. God tells him to go stand on a mount and meet with Him:
“And He said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (ESV)
Elijah had spent his life learning God’s voice. It was his job to distinguish and hear His voice apart from all other voices and then bring God’s word to His people. His time was dedicated to listening for God to speak.
What voices do you spend your time listening to?
The voices we hang around will naturally become familiar to us. Pretty soon, we find ourselves listening to voices we can’t help but hear because we’ve been around them so much. Pretty soon, we tune other voices out and pay attention to the one we recognize.
I used to run track in High School. When I’d cross the finish line with the other runners, people everywhere would be cheering and shouting, supporting the person they knew who had just finished the race. It was loud and a jumble of voices.
But, one voice I could always hear. My Papa. No matter how many other people were shouting and cheering, I could distinguish my Papa’s “Good job, Chrisser!” out from the crowd.
Why?
Because his voice is familiar to me. I’ve spent time with him and so knew when he was saying something to me even with many other voices speaking at the same time.
This is a purposeful way God’s made us! So that we have the ability to hear God’s voice above all else.
The problem is when we fill our time hanging around the wrong voices, they start to become familiar to us. Easier to listen to. Eventually even welcomed. And then we’re confused how to distinguish God’s voice in our everyday among all the others shouting and whispering at us.
When Elijah was waiting expectantly for God and other events came along, he didn’t waste time going after what wasn’t God. He saw and heard the strong wind, earthquake, and fire. But, this man knew without question when God was calling Him, and he responded only to Him.
Are you spending enough quality time with God that you could pick His voice out from a crowd? When you’re seeking direction in your life, do you waste time on anything that comes your way? Or are you patient and diligent in waiting to hear God’s familiar voice of direction?
When we waste too much time with other voices, they become the familiar voice, and the one we crave to hear, God’s voice, is the unfamiliar one we struggle to hear.
We’re filling up on rocks.
We find ourselves going to bed worried about what’s happening in the world around us because we’re saturating our time with voices of News stories instilling fear of the unknown, and horror of the could-be. Are you wasting your time on a thief, mentally stealing your security in Christ? Or wasting time on social media comparing our lives to others, leading us into desire wanting more and more to feel full? Craving more accomplishments, more status, more material possessions to make us whole.
These voices are not God.
They’re rocks. Leaving us empty and robbed of hearing our shepherd calling out to us.
To confidently know God’s voice in our lives the way Elijah knew God’s voice among the wind, earthquake, and fire, takes being intentional.
Intentionally setting all other voices aside. Turning off Netflix, taking a break from messaging friends and family, saying no to getting together with someone every night of the week.
And, instead, spend our time listening to God’s voice.
Reading His word, getting to know His heart. Paying attention to how God spoke to His people and how Jesus spoke to His disciples and those He loved around Him.
Let’s stop wasting our time eating rocks.
From one of His children to another,
Christi
*No ducks were injured in the stories recalled in this blog.