WEBVTT 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:05.280 Hey everyone, welcome to 21 Days of Prayer. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:08.800 This is day 16, and my name is Seth. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:16.640 We're going to be reading out of James chapter 4, verse 8, and 1 Kings 19, verse 12. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:21.440 James chapter 4 says, Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:27.039 Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:36.240 1 Kings 19, verse 12 says, And after an earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:41.280 And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:43.439 When I was a kid, I had a weird habit. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:45.759 Growing up, I would always whisper. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:50.240 It didn't matter what I was doing or where I was, I would just always whisper. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:52.240 It was just a fun habit that I always had. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:01:00.079 But I remember I was in a store with my mom one day, leaning in and whispering to her, and she said, Son, I can't hear you. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:01.920 She just stopped me and said, I can't hear you. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:03.520 You need to speak up. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:10.480 And instead of raising my voice, I simply just got closer to her and continued to whisper. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:19.840 That moment truly stuck with me because it reminded me of a story in 1 Kings 19, where the prophet Elijah was on the mountain seeking God. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:26.799 He experienced great winds, earthquakes, and fire, all very dramatic and all very loud. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:34.239 Yet the text says at the end of the passage that the Lord was not in the big wind or the earthquake or the fire. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:40.959 It was after all that Elijah heard a gentle whisper. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:52.480 See, oftentimes we go through trials and circumstances of life where we're looking for a big sign or maybe a huge breakthrough, a loud voice from God. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:04.079 We may feel like we're not hearing Him, but maybe the issue isn't God isn't speaking, but maybe we're not close enough to hear the voice of the Lord. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:06.079 His whisper is subtle. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:10.159 Just like I move closer to my mom so she could hear what I said. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:17.280 Maybe today we need to draw closer to the Lord so we can hear what he is saying to us. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:24.719 As James writes in James 4, verse 8, draw near to God and he will draw near to you. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:33.439 That's not only for the moment of trials and circumstances, but that is our everyday life, our posture. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:35.680 So here's my question for you. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:42.400 When was the last time you were still and close enough to the Lord to hear his gentle whisper? 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:47.680 Maybe it's a quiet moment, a walk, a simple pause. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:58.639 God is inviting you into his presence, and when you draw near, he draws near to you. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:00.240 Let's pray. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.919 God, thank you for always being near. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:08.479 Help me today to quieten the noise of life and draw closer to you. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:12.080 Teach me to listen to your gentle whisper. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:15.199 And in that stillness, may I hear you. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.560 May I respond, and may I rest in your presence. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:19.840 Amen. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:27.360 Hey, Access Family, we are so excited for tomorrow, day 17 of 21 Days of Prayer. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:28.479 See you then.