No need to impress

Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? (2 Kings 2:14)

Watch a major football game, and you’ll notice that the fans make more noise when the opposing team is in possession of the ball than when their team has it. They want to distract the players so that they will misstep and lose the ball. In a similar way, we are often surrounded by a myriad of voices that are trying to distract us from our goal. And in the midst of all the chaos, our heavenly Father is there, inviting us to a quiet place where we can hear his voice.

We see a similar story unfold in today’s first reading. Elijah was headed to the Jordan, and his protégé, Elisha, refused to leave his side. Scripture tells us that fifty other prophets followed them on the way, but when they reached the river, only Elijah and Elisha remained. It was there, in that place of quiet, that Elisha found the boldness to ask Elijah for a double portion of his prophetic spirit. It was there also that God sent a flaming chariot for Elijah. And it was there that Elisha found the power to divide the water.

Jesus is well aware of the voices that surround us. That’s why he tells us to go to our “inner room” when we pray (Matthew 6:6). He wants us to leave all the other voices behind so that we can focus on him. He also wants us to be free from the desire to impress other people, so that he can get on with the work of impressing us and teaching us how to love and serve him above all else.

Do you have a quiet place set aside for prayer? A quiet time? Try your best to get away from distracting voices. Put aside the concerns about what other people might think of you. Just focus on the Lord. Expect wondrous things to happen, just as they happened for Elisha. Boldly ask God to fill you with his presence and to speak to your heart. Here is where you’ll find wisdom for your life. Here is where you’ll find healing for your heart. And here is where you’ll find the joy and peace that only God can give.

“Here I am, Lord. For just these few minutes, help me silence all the other voices around me. Jesus, I want to hear your voice!”

from wau.org