KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH!(5).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH! (5).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 Kgs 19: 9-18.

*And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?*

*And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.*

*And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice.*

*And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?*

*And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.*

*Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

We must be quiet long enough to hear the voice of God.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

If only Elijah had waited long enough in the midst of fear over the threat of Jezebel, he probably may not have run into the wilderness.

Fear truly has torment, 1 John 4:18.

It will not allow you to pray. It will not allow you to be patient. You become restless. You are not able to hear anyone's voice how much more God's. The only voice is fear itself and possibly the agents of fear around you.

Only the voice of God in any situation can address our anxieties and fears.

The voice Elijah needed to hear at first before he ran was now coming to tell him he did not need to run. The voice was now asking him what he was doing where he was. In other words, the voice was telling him he was not where he should be.

God told him He was passing by. He passed by in the wind and the mountain rocks brake followed by the earthquake and fire, but God did not show up in any of them.

God who had been showing Himself to Elijah through powerful and spectacular ways did not do so these times but manifested Himself in a quiet, subtle, and solemn way. This may have been surprising to Elijah.

God may have been teaching him by highlighting the importance of personal connection and intimacy. Where did Elijah leave these but thought of running instead?

God may have been teaching him that instead of running, a careful attempt to draw close to God to ask what he should do was most expected of him.

It was the *"....still small voice...."* that brought God to him, and he only heard this voice because he intently listened long enough to hear it.

God must be teaching him and us that we need to be calm in troubling times, and it is only in our calmness that we could hear Him.

We can hear God in the ordinary moments of life and in quiet reflection and rest.

Though it was in a *"....still small voice...."* but the smallness of the voice can be more grand and powerful than an apparent outward display of His power.

Whatever God will do at anytime often begins with a voice to give direction and directives but not everyone hears from God and often people would look forward to the powerful display of the wind, earthquake, and fire. These are people's best signs and what they expect to be indicative of God's presence because of their powerful nature.

If, however, we focus on God by keeping our heads high, we will see that a still small voice is just as powerful as the grand entrance and display of God's power.

Before you make a decision under pressure, before you panic under threat and before you flee before your enemies, wait for the still small voice.

Keep your head high.

*Remorse corner.*

While you wait for the powerful display of the wind, earthquake, and fire, listen attentively and long enough to hear His voice.

*Call to Word action.*

God's small still voice can thunder just like the grand display of His powerful nature.

Ps 29:3 *The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Isaiah 30:15

*For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:......"*

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to patiently wait for the still small voice both in the expectation of Your powerful outward manifestation and in the midst of life's problems, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.