Be Still...Shhhh

Sometimes irony floors me. Last week in Sunday School we were discussing Abram and Sarai and how Abram made her pretend to be his sister once they entered into Egypt because he was scared the Egyptians would kill him if they knew she was his wife. The question came up as to why Abram didn't trust God. After all, God told Abram not to worry and that his children would populate the earth.  It made me ask, how did God speak to Abram?

My mother says that God spoke literally in the Old Testament, but not in the New because there was Jesus.  I don't know what I think. Living in the time that we do now, I always assumed God's voice was our conscious, but we doubt that often. How do we know Abram didn't have to read signs from the Lord like we try to do today? Maybe it wasn't that he didn't trust God, maybe he just didn't hear him clearly.

Here is where the irony comes in.  I left Sunday School to hear a sermon by our preacher in which he repeated over and over again, Lent is for listening. I am trying to listen. I am turning off the radio when I am in the car alone. I am trying to pray with more vigor and more encompassing.  I want to talk to God, I want him to hear me. I want to hear him.  But how do I know I am interpreting things correctly?

One of the most powerful phrases in the Bible to me is from Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." Be still and listen. That is what I am trying to do this Lenten season. God, where are you in my life today? I am looking in the small things. I am searching in the big things. I am listening in the wind.  Please help me to hear you and discern your path for me.

Here is a link to my pastor's sermon. I hope you will take time to read it, but if not, I am going to close on the most poignant part for me.