“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
1 Kings 19:12 KJV
One thing the average African child learnt very early was the ability to discern their parents’ “leading” even in the most indistinct forms, either by facial expressions, a head tilt or a sarcastic laughter.
The average African child knows his parents are communicating even if the mode of communication is not so obvious. This is because the closer you are to someone, the more familiar you are with their modes of communication.
This also is true when it comes to us receiving a leading from God. Many have come to idolize spectacular leadings; they associate the clarity and importance of a leading with how mind-blowing it was. Some in pursuing the spectacular have missed the supernatural.
You must know that it is a sin for God to speak to you in a way and you despise it because it wasn’t spectacular. It doesn’t have to be spectacular for it to be spiritual. In fact, God sometimes employs theatrical modes of communication because of unbelief.
For example, God had to show Peter a vision ahead of his (Peter’s) visit to Cornelius’s house to preach because of his reluctance towards preaching in a gentile home (Acts 10:9-20).
Also in Matthew 12:39, we see Jesus rebuke the Pharisees because they sought for a sign out of their unbelief when all they needed to do was believe the scriptures.
This shows that you must be open to the simple ways that God leads, you must be open to that “still small voice” telling you where to go, what to do and how to do it. In the Bible, we see how unassuming this can be. For instance, in the case of Paul perceiving a man had faith to be healed (Acts 14:8-9) or him being restrained from preaching in Asia by the Spirit (Acts 16:6).
Again, we see this in Nehemiah not being able to serve the Persian King while Jerusalem’s wall remained in ruins (Nehemiah 1:1-4), and David not being able to withstand Goliaths boasting while the other soldiers in Saul’s army cowered in fear (1Samuel 17:26).
In following simple leadings, you train your heart to trust God and in the process receive, and walk in more leadings. However if you don’t appreciate simple leadings, you won’t even see the spectacular you desire so badly.
This morning, cast your mind back to all the simple promptings God has tugged your heart with and make a commitment today to follow them till they are all accomplished.
Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 15:1-15, Galatians 4:1-20, Psalms 114, 2 Samuel 16-17