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<v SPEAKER_00>Hey everybody, Pastor Liz here, and today is day two of our 21 days of prayer devotionals.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today's title, Make Room for Silence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As a child, I got in trouble for one thing and one thing only.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Talking.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Talking is not bad, of course, but talking can be done out of place, out of a wrong heart, and simply out of turn.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My mom and dad would shake their heads and smile when they read my report cards, mostly glowing, with a kind needs to work on talking less in class, thrown in for good measure.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I love to talk.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I don't mind silence, but there's nothing that beats a great conversation and some laughs with a loved one.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The only problem with my proclivity for verbosity, my yearning to yap, is that God often speaks in my silence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's not that God can't yell or scream or send a lightning bolt to get my attention, but he just doesn't seem to.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Often he's in the silent moments, waiting for me to finally quiet my heart and mind and listen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't believe me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Check out this passage of Scripture from the book of First Kings.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In first Kings nineteen, eleven through thirteen, it says, The Lord said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But the Lord was not in the wind.

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<v SPEAKER_00>After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

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<v SPEAKER_00>After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Elijah had run and fled from Jezebel right after a decisive spiritual victory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Here, alone at Horeb, Elijah waits on God and is surprised that he comes not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Can anyone relate to a season where your life felt like a series of storms, with you in the center, expectantly waiting for God only to seemingly be disappointed?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why does God come in the gentle whisper?

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is all about us knowing that he is God and we are not.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When we silence our hearts and minds and mouths and listen, he gets to speak the narrative he wants for our lives.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's unfair when we talk and ignore him and then beg him to intervene in the way we want him to.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is always speaking, but am I being silent enough to hear him?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let me encourage you today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God isn't silent.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Your prayers may feel unanswered, but what if it was simply an awareness issue, not an activity issue?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Take a moment or two of silence today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You may be surprised with what you hear.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let's pray.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God, give me the wisdom to know when to be silent and when to speak.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I acknowledge that there have likely been times when I accused you of silence, but really, it was me with the silence problem.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I know you are moving and speaking, and I promise to make space to hear.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Hey, we'll see you guys tomorrow on day three.