Does God Still Speak?

And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:12

Does God still speak? What is He saying? How can I hear Him? Many people ask these questions today. It is so noisy in our world today. Many sounds are being heard, especially the sound of fear and uncertainty.

Elijah was a prophet of God and he too faced fear. Jezebel threatened to take his life. Truth is, it was a serious threat and his reaction to her threat was a human response to run and hide. This threat came right after a victorious showdown. He was fearful and felt he was alone. Many times, in our lives we get to that place, and we ask, God where are you. During those times it is hard to hear God because our minds are bombarded with many thoughts.

In 1 Kings 19:11-12, Elijah ended up in a cave and there was a strong wind, an earthquake, a fire but God said He was not in either of them. Many times, we are looking to hear or see God in the big things, or we want to see Him do something great to prove He is there. But as with Elijah, God was there, and He spoke in a still small voice.

I will share with you one of my experiences during a noisy time in my life. I faced some challenges and felt overwhelmed. I talked to God as I had many questions. One day as I walked into a supermarket, there was a gentleman there and he was singing ‘there is no secret what God can do’. Immediately, I knew that was God speaking to me through that song. It was simple. yet profound. It was a gentle reminder to let me know that God was with me, and He was working behind the scenes. In that moment I stopped and thank Him for speaking to me through that song. The rest of the song says, ‘what He has done for others, He will do for you’.

Yes, God still speaks! It may be a song, a picture, His word. Matthew11:28 Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’. He is inviting you today to come! Come into His presence, He wants to speak to you. Get away and spend some quiet time with Him. He will speak!!!!!

Build An Altar

“He built an altar to the Lord” = Genesis 12:7 NKJV

Do you have an altar where you meet with God and commune with Him? I believe as Believers, we all are to build an altar to the Lord; a place of meeting. After the flood, the first thing Noah did was build an altar to the Lord. Think about it. Noah had an altar before he had a home. Most of us have homes, but the old-fashioned family altar has virtually disappeared. Everywhere Abraham went, he built an altar. Why?

An Altar is a place of prayer – The Bible says that Abraham returned “to the place of the altar which he had made…And there Abram called on the Name of the Lord” (Gen. 13:4). He inquired of the Lord and stayed in consistent communication with Him.

An Altar is a place of sacrifice – “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar” (Gen. 22:9). Did God want Abraham to slay Isaac? No, God just wanted to know, “Is there anything I could ask of you that you would be unwilling to give, or anything on earth you love more than Me? God will not ask you for what you don’t have, but He will often ask you for something you would like to keep. Sacrificial giving conquers the spirit of greed, the fear of lack, and your focus on self-centered living.

An Altar is a place of worship – “You shall make an altar to burn incense on” (Exodus 30:1). As the incense melted and the smoke rose, it represented the worship of God. Worship is an act of intimacy; it’s the giving of your heart, your love, your praise, and thanksgiving to God. The Bible describes it as “a sweet-smelling aroma: (Eph. 5:2).

Though we may have physical altars in our homes, we are able to build an altar to the Lord wherever we go: in our cars, in the hotel room when we travel, the bathroom on our jobs, etc. This is not difficult because our hearts are altars, as our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). God desires for our hearts to become sacred altars, a place of worship and communion with God, reflecting His love and grace in our lives. So today, prepare your heart and build an altar to the Lord.

My Heart, His Altar

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. - Hebrews 10:22 ESV

In the Old Testament, altars were physical places where sacrifices were made, and people connected with God. Because of the intimate relationship we now have with God through Jesus Christ today, our hearts are to be the spiritual altars where we offer ourselves in devotion and worship to the Lord.

Just as the priests in the Old Testament would prepare the altar with care and reverence, we too are called to prepare our hearts. Hebrews 10:22 encourages us to draw near to God with a true heart, symbolizing sincerity and faithfulness. Our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, indicating that through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are purified and made holy.

Our daily lives are filled with moments that can either draw us closer to God or pull us away. When we treat our hearts as altars, we intentionally create space for God’s presence. This means nurturing our relationship with Him through prayer, worship, and reading His Word. It also means being mindful of what we allow into our hearts…guarding against negativity and sin (See Proverbs 4:23).

By intentionally cultivating a heart devoted to God, you’ll experience His presence more deeply and reflect His light more brightly to the world around you. Trust in His transforming power and find peace in knowing that your heart is a cherished altar before the Lord.

Today, spend a few minutes in prayer, asking God to help you treat your heart as an altar. Seek His guidance in purifying your thoughts and intentions and dedicate this day to worshiping Him in all you do.