We can imitate the example of Jesus, making time for solitude and silence so that we might hear the “still, small voice” of God’s Spirit.
[The LORD] said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
Now during those days [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when the day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles.
Though we can’t make God give us wisdom through the Holy Spirit, we can ask expectantly. We can seek wisdom for every facet of our lives, including our daily work. And we can imitate the example of Jesus, making time for solitude and silence so that we might hear the “still, small voice” of God’s Spirit. God loves to give wisdom from above to those who ask for it.
The Spirit gives us wisdom in a variety of ways. For example, often the Spirit speaks to us through Scripture. At other times the Spirit gives gifts of wisdom to help us judge rightly and live well in the challenges of everyday life.
If we have accepted God’s grace through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within us (Romans 8:9-11). The indwelling Spirit does many things for us, such as joining us to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), causing spiritual fruit to grow in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23), and empowering us for witness and other kinds of ministry (Acts 1:8). The Spirit gives us life, peace, joy, and hope (Romans 8:6; 14:17; 15:13). The Spirit also gives us practical and specific wisdom to guide us as we seek to live in a way that glorifies God (1 Corinthians 12:8; Galatians 5:25).
There isn’t a secret formula we can use to make the Holy Spirit give us wisdom. The sovereign Spirit gives gifts according to the will of the Spirit as they are needed by God’s people for ministry. However, there are ways we can help ourselves to be more attentive to the guidance of the Spirit. We can, for example, be active in a Christian community in which the Holy Spirit guides and empowers. We will hear what the Spirit is saying to us through the faithful channels of our fellow believers.
But there are times when Spirit-given wisdom comes in the midst of solitude and silence. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus “went out to the mountain to pray” (Luke 6:12). He spent a whole night alone, talking to God. Then, Luke tells us, “when the day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them” (Luke 6:13). From his time alone with his Heavenly Father Jesus became clear about whom to call to follow him.
In the Old Testament book of 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah had experienced a grueling spiritual battle with the royal authorities and their pagan prophets (1 Kings 18:20-40). Though he prevailed in this battle, Elijah’s life was threatened by the queen. So he took off for the wilderness, hiding in a secluded cave. While he was there, the Lord spoke to him, telling him to stand on a mountain. The Lord was about to pass by in front of Elijah. Soon there came a blasting wind, a rattling earthquake, and a blazing fire. But the Lord was not in any of these. Then God appeared to Elijah in “a sound of sheer silence” (1 Kings 19:12). The classic King James Version renders this phrase as “a still small voice.” In stillness and silence, the Lord spoke to Elijah.
The examples of Jesus in Luke 6 and Elijah in 1 Kings 19 suggest that we can put ourselves in a place of readiness to hear from the Lord. When we step back from the noisiness and business of ordinary life, when we let commotion inside our heads quiet down, we’re ready to hear God more clearly.
In those times of silence, sometimes God speaks distinctly. Sometimes we simply receive the gift of stillness, which is a precious gift these days. If, when you set aside time for solitude and silence, you don’t hear anything special from God, don’t worry. Don’t make something up. Sometimes the “still, small voice” of God is there, but so quiet that it takes us time to hear it. Nevertheless, even if it seems like you’ve received nothing from God, allow the time of quiet fellowship with God to be its own reward. But, also remember that James urges us to ask for wisdom, noting that God “gives to all generously and ungrudgingly” (James 1:5).
So, though we can’t make God give us wisdom through the Holy Spirit, we can ask expectantly. We can seek wisdom for every facet of our lives, including our daily work. And we can imitate the example of Jesus, making time for solitude and silence, so that we might hear the “still, small voice” of God’s Spirit. God loves to give wisdom from above to those who ask and seek.
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