Oh, I love the desert sky after a rain! We had rain last night from about 1 am to 2:30 am. Sometimes it was hard and wind driven and at others it was gently falling. When I got up and took Glory out in the backyard, the sky was clear, the air was brisk & fresh and the stars were are bright as diamonds.
Kind of made me wonder what it was like for the shepherds so long ago. It was just a regular night. I’m sure some shepherds were standing watch while the others were sleeping. The sheep were bedded down and all was quiet. I love the quiet – And then bam, heaven’s messenger showed up and the whole course of history was changed.
“That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9 All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy.” Luke 2:8-10 CEV
That night the Lord’s message was bold and demonstrative but it was delivered out in the fields, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and it impacted the lives of those who heard it. These men had been given a responsibility, a duty. They cared for sheep and if anything happened to the sheep they lost their livelihood. They were so compelled by the Lord’s message that they left all to find this child. They were more concerned about the message than they were about the sheep.
“The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. 17 When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child. 18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” Luke 2:15-19 ERV
You know God is still speaking today but sometimes there is just too much noise to hear Him. Too much activity, too many projects, our “to-do” list is too long and we are distracted from hearing His voice. Reminds me of Elijah, the prophet, who was running from King Ahab. He feared for his life and he cried out to God for answers.
“11 Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go, stand in front of me on the mountain. I, the Lord, will pass by you.”[a] Then a very strong wind blew. The wind caused the mountains to break apart. It broke large rocks in front of the Lord. But that wind was not the Lord. After that wind, there was an earthquake. But that earthquake was not the Lord. 12 After the earthquake, there was a fire. But that fire was not the Lord. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice.[b]
13 When Elijah heard the voice, he used his coat to cover his face and went to the entrance to the cave and stood there.” I Kings 19:11-13 ERV
It’s important that we slow down and unplug from the noise of our worlds. Each of us have different distractions and responsibilities. You don’t have to blocked out a huge amount of time, start with 15 minutes. Take time to pray “Lord, speak to my heart. I want to hear your voice.” And then read a few verses of Scripture and see what He has to say to you personally.
I appreciate that you take the time to read my devotional each day but I would much rather that you spend one on one time with the Lord. It’s one thing for someone to tell you how good a piece of pie is but it’s better to experience it personally. If you know what I mean.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him. 26 It is good to wait quietly for the Lord to save them.” Lamentations 3:25-26 ERV
Enjoy the gift of quiet that you have been given and listen for the still small voice.