Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” (Josh. 3:9)
The little girl asked her father, “Daddy, does God talk to you?”
“Yes, He does—through His Word.”
When she became a mother and grandmother, she adopted her father’s standard of daily Bible reading. She desired to be like her father, who gained insight from the Scriptures. But she fell short. Though she read the Bible daily, she read out of duty rather than joy. Then, when God moved her family to a rural mountain home, she began to experience times of quiet worship. It seemed as if the Lord said, “Set a meeting time!” She walked to her loft and invited God to sit in her daddy’s rocking chair. “Lord,” she prayed, “I’ve desired more than Scripture-skimming. Teach me to hear You through the verses.” Reading out loud kept her focused, and when she prayed, she said, “Lord, help me be silent before You, so I may hear Your voice.” Like her father, she created a routine. And, guess what? It was no longer a duty but a welcome delight!
As Joshua urged the Israelites to come and listen, God has urged us to approach our quiet time with an attitude of expectation. Now, grandma has told her grandson, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord,” as she makes the Word come alive.
Be quiet before God, giving Him a chance to speak.
Shirley A. Reynolds lives in a rural community, teaches elementary children at her church, and enjoys riding her ATV in the back woods.
