Still Small Voice
In 1943 Dean Willard Sperry of Harvard University published a small booklet titled, Prayers for Private Devotions in War-Time. One of his prayers, dated to the seventh century, addressed the “Spirit of Prayer”:
Dispel for this hour, O Lord, the manifold distractions of the world; that we may be able with quiet minds to receive the promptings of thy still small voice.246
The inspiration for this prayer clearly comes from a story in the Old Testament about the prophet Elijah’s encounter with God on Mount Horeb:
The Lordsaid, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lordis about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lordwas not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lordwas not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lordwas not in the fire. And after the fire came a gently whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ~1 Kings 19:11–13
This story in no way limits how God communicates to man. He can and does speak in any way he pleases. He has revealed himself in Scripture and often speaks to us as we read and study it. He used thunder when addressing Moses. If he ever speaks to us that way, we don’t have to worry about hearing him. However, we know that God speaks most often to us quietly as we pray. He wants us to come to him in prayer and wants us to listen to him in return. Unfortunately, we often allow God’s voice to be drowned out by the noise in our lives. Today, it is even worse than when Dean Sperry offered his prayer in wartime. Today we are bombarded by news, entertainment, and advertising media that have made a science of commanding our attention. Our “manifold distractions” have multiplied many times over. To have a meaningful relationship with our heavenly Father we must make quiet time and a “quiet mind” our absolutely first priorities.
Be still, and know that I am God.
—Psalm 46:10