Craig Clouston

 

After The Fire

November 16

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

1Kings 19:12

Trudie was surprised by the sudden and powerful nudge of the Holy Spirit, “Call Nell…” Obeying the unction, she dialed her good friend’s phone number, and waited for a response from the other end of the line. There was none, as the call went to voicemail. After trying two more times, with the same results, she felt another nudge, “Get ready and drive to Nell and Jack’s house.”

Never one to discount or ignore this type of urgency of the Spirit, she told her husband, George about the divine messages, and about not being able to contact Nell.

“Well, we’d better go,” George said.

So they climbed in the car, and began the three hour drive. At about the half-way point Trudie attempted to call again, but each time it went to voicemail. Concerned, they decided to go the rest of the way even though they had no more than God’s incomplete instructions to go on.

Arriving at Jack and Nell’s, they found no one home. Again God spoke, “Go to the hospital…” Trudie and George pressed on, arriving at the hospital some twenty minutes later. “Is there a Nell or Jack Clouston admitted here?” Trudie asked the receptionist.

“Yes, Jack was admitted on Saturday.”

Minutes later, Jack and Nell were surprised to see their life-long friends walk through the door. And even more surprised, and blessed, when Trudie related the course of events that had led them here.

†

God’s voice is neither thundering nor loud. It is intimate and personal, reaching deep into our soul. His voice can be commanding and urgent, yet soft and comforting. Hearing His voice requires listening with our spiritual ears. As today’s text says, God is not in the fire, we will find Him speaking to us in a gentle whisper.

Once we’ve heard Him, we have a choice: obey or disregard the restrained request. If we want the blessing of having our obedience rewarded as were Trudie and George, we must obey God’s leading.

Once we’ve followed God’s leading we will never again need more than that first, gentle whisper to begin the next journey.

Prayer

“Father, help me to always be attentive to Your voice. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”