daily readings

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You Are Not Alone…!!

4th March

“And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain…. but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 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 19:11-13 

There are very few people that were or are full of so much faith that can rival that of the Old Testament prophet, Elijah. What a man of God. Elijah saw some of the most miraculous events and wonders that were to ever take place in the Bible. Yet he found himself here in this passage running away from the call God had on his life, through the fear of an evil leader. This same Elijah had just been given supernatural strength to run faster than a chariot, was fed by ravens, made bread from a tiny bit of oil and flour, and called down fire to burn a water soaked altar. Yet this man feared a human being, the evil ruler, Jezebel.

So often in our lives we can witness God move in such powerful ways, yet as soon as a situation comes up where we feel tried, lonely and tested, we hide away and forgot the wonders God has done in our lives. However, it is often in the stillness of our storms, when we take time to sit in the presence of God, that we really hear His voice. Elijah, although he saw God move in great power through him, was fearful of death, fearful of Jezebel and Ahab and tried to hide from what God had called him to do. Yet God, in His loving, gentle, kindness embraces Elijah and meets him where he is at; not in the raging storms, earthquakes and fire, but in the still, small and peaceful voice.

If the storm is raging and you feel alone, know that God will meet you were you are and give you strength. Whatever the challenge, God is with you, it’s a promise!

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Have You The Heard The Voice Of God?

3rd March

 “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me.”

John 10:27-28 

What does the voice of God sound like? Have you ever heard it? The truth is, is that God speaks to us in so many different ways; through the still small voice in our minds, through creation, through His word and sometimes even audibly.

However, the underlying truth is this… We must all be able to discern and hear the voice of God. Why? Well, the obvious answer is, that if we are to engage in any type of relationship with God Himself, then we need to be able to have a conversation with Him. Any relationship is a two-way communication. Simply put, if you can’t hear from God, then it becomes a one-way conversation. God has so much to share with His sheep, so much to share with YOU! In hearing God’s voice, your identity in Him is secure. You know that you are His. You know that you can follow His voice and His guidance. There is richness and fullness of life in His words.

Yet so often, our minds are clogged up with so many others thoughts and voices that we find it hard to hear what God is saying. Even David, the friend of God, sometimes had moments in his life when he felt distant from God…”My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are You so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call You, my God, but You do not answer.” (Psalm 22:1-2) In fact Jesus Himself, repeated those words as He was hanging on the cross. Although the context of these two examples might be completely different from what we face, the fact of the matter is, is that sometimes things get in the way of us discerning and hearing God’s voice. Sometimes, we do feel far from Him. Sometimes, we do feel abandoned. Yet God is always there. He always wants to talk to us.

If we are to follow Him, then we need to remove any obstacles that hinder our walk with Him and be free to have a real, living and free relationship with our Master. Do you hear the voice of your Shepherd?