Waiting in Prayer - Part 2
Sitting in the presence of God
Waiting in the presence of God is different from waiting for God to answer our prayers. It is attending to God as we sit silently in his presence and wait for him to speak to us. Most of us do not like to sit still. We want to be busy - maybe not with our bodies, but with our minds. We want our minds occupied in conversation, entertainment, or some other distraction. We are drawn to busyness. I am disheartened to say that being busy has become an idol for some. Think back to your conversations this week. How many times did you hear someone say (or said yourself) something like, “Things are good! You know, busy, busy, busy.” Deep down, many believe that doing nothing is really a sin. Be honest! Do you feel guilty when you are doing nothing? Let me ask you four very personal questions. Answer honestly!!
Is there a “hole in your life” that you are trying to fill with being busy?
What needs do you have that you are trying to satisfy with being busy?
How would you feel about yourself if you did nothing for a whole day? A week?
How would you spend your time if you stopped being so busy?
A great answer to question #4 is spending more time with God in prayer. Let me share two quotes that help frame the need to spend more time with God in prayer.
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”― Martin Luther
“Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work.” - Oswald Chambers
The kind of prayer that I am talking about here is not bringing copious requests before the Lord. It is good to have a prayer list and to continually lift before God missionaries, ministers, family, friends, the sick, and those impacted by injustice, famine, disasters, etc. But the prayer I am talking about is sitting before the Lord to truly listen to him. To block out all the noise outside and inside our heads and hearts. To take ourselves “out of the equation.” To focus beyond our wants and desires. To listen to the heart and mind of God. This is the waiting upon the Lord that I am referring to.
The prophet Elijah discovered this kind of prayer the hard way. He had been busy, busy, busy - calling down fire from heaven, killing the priests of Baal, and being God’s man for the season. He was so busy that he became worn out, worn down, and burned out. So, God led him to Mt. Horeb so that there would be no distractions and he could hear the voice of the Lord. Elijah was so used to the busy kind of prayers that he sought God’s presence in all the wrong ways. Let’s step into Elijah’s story as God gets his attention.*
“Then he said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD's presence." At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. [12] After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. [13] When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" - 1 Kings 19:11-13 CSB
We desire action - wind, earthquake, fire. We want to do - not sit, be quiet, and listen. But where was God for Elijah (and us)? In the whisper! In the quietness of God’s voice. And Elijah listened!
It is hard to sit in God's presence and wait for him to speak to us. We are so wired for action that we think we need to do something. But doing nothing is what is required. Just sitting in God's presence and truthfully saying, “Here I am, Lord. Speak to me. Your servant is waiting to hear your voice.” And then listen!!!!
HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US?
There are four basic ways that, in the quietness of his gentle whisper, God speaks to us.
The first is through his written Word. As you sit quietly and listen, he may bring to mind a specific passage or truth from his Word that guides and directs you at that specific time.
The second is through other trusted believers. He may bring to your memory something said in a sermon, what someone said in a Bible study, or to you personally. He may lead you to seek out someone for counsel.
Third is something that you have read or seen. It can be within the Christian community, but it doesn’t have to be. You may have observed some injustice or hurt that God is asking you to become involved in changing. This is also where the final way God speaks to you comes in.
Fourth is Holy Spirit speaking directly to your spirit and “prompting” you to do something. God did this for Elijah when he said…
…"Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. [16] You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.” - 1 Kings 19:15-16 CSB
You and I are not Old Testament prophets, but God still speaks to us today. Our task is to listen—to sit and listen to our Lord. He will speak to us if we give him the time and our full presence.
One final caveat. God will never prompt you to do anything that is contrary to his written Word. God is not the author of confusion. If you sense that God is leading you to do something against his Word, the message is not from Him!
* You can read about Elijah’s adventure in 1 Kings 18 & 19.