day no. 15,183: if you want to hear God, "shut up!"

Last night (11/21/19) while talking to my children over dinner, we discussed the following ideas...

The reason why many people can't hear God speak is because they talk too much.

Revelation 8:1
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

God's voice often appears in the form of a still small voice. It is easy to miss if you aren't used to listening for it.

1 Kings 19:11-13 
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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 the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

In other words, if you want to hear God, "Shut up!"

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Are you silent enough to hear from God? It's hard to hear someone else's voice when you're doing all the speaking.