The Spirit’s voice is heard in the inner room of your soul.

+++

As part of the following reflection, listen to my song “Turn Off the Noise” on YouTube by clicking HERE. Consider purchasing on Amazon Music to support my ministry by clicking HERE. Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” by clicking HERE. Thank you!

+++

1 Kings 17:2-4

The word of the LORD came to Elijah: Leave here, go east and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.

+++

Elijah was listening for God’s voice.

As St. John of the Cross said, “God’s first language is silence.”

And as Thomas Keating added, “Everything else is a poor translation.”

At the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky where Thomas Merton lived, you can often see signs in the dining hall that read, “Silence is spoken here.”

Many Christians have unfortunately lost the mystical, contemplative dimensions of their religion.

God has not stopped speaking to us, but many of us have stopped listening.

In order to hear, a contemplative prayer practice is essential, whether it is meditation or Centering Prayer which is my practice.

It is a time of silence to practice letting go and letting God.

The rub is, when you do this, don’t be surprised if you are asked to make some changes in your life.

Elijah was asked to leave his home and to settle in a particular place in the wilds where he would drink from a stream and be fed by ravens. And he did it!

Sometimes we may be asked to strip ourselves of all the attachments that have kept us confined to our comfort zones so that we are freed to live the life meant for us.

We may be asked to stop certain addictive practices.

We might be asked to change our social life or our politics.

We might even be asked to quit our jobs.

It might not be easy.

It will take trust.

But I guarantee it will lead you to an abundance of life.

You will come to know, in the words of Thomas Merton, your true self.

This will give new meaning to the first line in the Beatitudes where Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:30).

Or as it is translated in the original Aramaic by Neil Douglas-Klotz in his book, Blessings of the Cosmos, “Ripe are you who feel your personal strength drained away, your real power lies in the reign of Unity”; or, “Blessed are you who hold onto very little, yours is the wealth and rule of your original divine image.”

What could be more important?

+++

Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!