In the Quiet

Jesus often went off to a mountainside to be by himself to pray.

Matthew 14:23

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone

Luke 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Elijah waited to hear God and He came not by a loud wind, a raging fire, nor a violent earthquake, but by a whisper.

1 Kings 19:11-13

11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
      Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks 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 came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave

Our society is filled with noise. ESPN, CNN, Disney Channel, Olympics, House, Heroes, NFL, Fantasy Football, Sports Illustrated, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Tabloids, Best Buy, Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21, Google, Microsoft, Xbox 360, PS3, Democrat, Republican, Socialism, Capitalism, Earthquakes, Hurricanes, China, Russia, Oil, Terrorism, School, New York City, Harry Potter, Work, The Dark Knight, Dave Matthew’s Band, Linkin Park, Jay-Z, Fergie, The Jonas Brothers, Commuting, 5ks, 10ks, Weightlifting, Tubing, Product (RED), Bono, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, New Pastor, New Church, Black, White, Hispanic, Evolution, Intelligent Design,  College, Graduation, Abortion, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Halo, COD4…

Jesus, as an example, made it a point to be alone with God.  We should do the same.  And I don’t mean 15 minutes every morning (though this is encouraged.)  I think it’s clear that what is described in the gospels is not something that happened all the time, but did occur occasionally.  I think this is an idea we can apply to our lives. 

We must do something out of our normal schedule.  We must be deliberate in being quiet and alone with God.   We must make this regular, but not scheduled.