If you know anything about me, you know I love flying airplanes. It’s a huge passion of mine and I love crafting my skills in aviation. There’s something unique about being in the sky cruising thousands of feet above the earth… it’s breathtaking and I’m in awe just about every time I go.
This last time I went I found myself up there singing these lyrics… “you’re a good good Father, it’s who you are, it’s who you are and I’m loved by you.”
Before I ever set foot in the airplane or better yet before I even drive to the airport, I have to triple-check one main thing: the weather.
I get a series of flight briefings to determine if the weather permits me to fly the airplane today. I write this because there’s something I’ve learned about my faith through flying.
The best time to go flying is early in the morning when it’s calm and quiet. Typically, the mornings offer stunning views and ideal weather for flying. The sun is rising, there’s no wind, there’s usually no rain because most storms start mid-afternoon and there’s usually no clouds rolling in yet. It’s gorgeous.
I thought this week about why I do my quiet times so early in the morning and it’s the same reason why flying is best done in the morning.
In the stillness. In the quietness. Before the day gets started.
I’ve found for me, that’s when Jesus speaks most to me. When I’m still with a clear mind ready to listen. It’s hard sometimes to hear Jesus after I got my day started because I get so focused on what I’m doing throughout the day. I find Jesus in the stillness of the morning.
There’s a guy in the Bible who had this same experience, his name is Elijah. Elijah felt like a failure and was going through storms in his life. The people he was trying to lead toward God were trying to kill him. Elijah told God just before this, “I’ve had enough. Take me home.” After that conversation followed God speaking to him. Here’s what happened:
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
Can you imagine all of the craziness happening right in front of Elijah!? A fire, an earthquake, and a strong wind! I’m sure he was terrified. But then came a whisper in the calamity… God talked to Elijah in a gentle whisper.
From the verses, it looks like it was unexpected that God talked to Elijah like that. I think for most of it’s the same way.
We expect a big revelation, a sign to hit us in the face in the middle of the day, or for a stranger to come to deliver a message to us. But the whole time God is saying, “I want to talk to you. Come get quiet and listen to my whisper.”
Intentional quiet time
If you don’t have a time when you get quiet with God I believe that’s your next step from reading this.
I encourage the morning to be the best time but if you absolutely can’t, find a time when you can have a quiet time. At night or in the afternoon. Sometimes when you can get alone for 10 minutes with God and let him speak to you.
Once you get in the habit of this, you’ll see it’s the best thing in the world! I look forward to it every single day 🙂
If you want to know what a quiet time looks like or how to start having, check out this resource.
Bryant Westbrook 