Image via Messenger International

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 (NIV)

Other versions of God’s word refer to the whisper in verse 12 as a still small voice.

One of the definitions in Merriam-Webster for whisper is: : to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords especially to avoid being overheard

I have never thought (really thought) about God’s voice much. I’ve quoted the above scripture many times, I’ve asked God to whisper to my heart, I’ve heard it being preached more times than not…but for some reason whisper & small still voice have never settled in my soul. It’s never affected me or made much of an impression. On an intellectual level I get it…God was in that whisper…He is not necessarily in the noise (I’m inclined to look for Him there, in the noise – but that’s not the point now)…Elijah came out when He heard the whisper; the small still voice.

Yesterday, I finished reading Lisa Bevere’s book, Lioness Arising: Wake Up and Change Your World. From the beginning to the end her words captivated my heart. I could not put the book down. I wanted to highlight every paragraph, I wanted to call each girl and women in my life and shout say…get the book! I kept thinking…it’s because the lioness is my favourite animal in the world; maybe it’s my African heart that sees her majestic movements dancing on the pages of this book – I get her; perhaps it’s her strength and her roar and her courage; or might it be her inclusive nature…!?

However, as I read the very last sentence of this book my heart knew why I was captivated, awestruck, drawn and mesmerized by this book! I have heard those words before…words birthed in me…deep in me…long ago…I heard the whisper in my history…it WAS a small still voice…!

Lioness, lift your voice.

Small still voice.
Whispered.
To avoid being overheard.

Lioness, lift your voice! Loiness.lift.your.voice.

It echoed in me through the night…it was (and is) as though a deep memory, long forgotten was stirred…awakened…whispered into the light! A deep knowledge, a definite YES! I know the Voice…but the big realization…my soul recognized the decree!

Lioness! Yes you and me! Lift your voice!

In order for lions or lionesses to roar effectively, they must first change their posture. The unleashing of such raw declaration of might requires a bow. Their powerful heads drop, and they expand their chests in order to fill their lungs with air. ~ Lisa Bevere from Lioness Arising

You know that feeling when you stay underwater for as long as possible? When you push for a couple of extra seconds and just before your toes go numb and it feels as though your body might burst, you push through the water’s surface and you breathe…like a newborn babe you expand your lungs and you inhale! Well that’s how I felt when the whisper reached my memory!

Lioness, lift your voice!

Imagine that.  Lift your voice. Yes, yours!

Lift it…let it be heard. Inhale my friend…and lift your voice about the good, the grace, the wounding and the truth.  Lift your voice against what is wrong, lift your voice for the brokenhearted! When you hear the whisper…lift your voice!

As Lisa reminded me again…we follow the Lion of Judah!  We’re in the company of the King of Kings…let’s change our stance!  Let’s remember who we are – because He is and we belong to Him.  We are part of His tribe!  We belong to a victorious God!  Our God can shake the foundation of the earth and the foundation of our souls with a whisper! Don’t you just love that?  We, His daughters, know His small still voice…even when we think we don’t!

Can you dream, see or imagine this:

Each sound starts with a whisper! As we take hands, as we unify, as we include, as we bow our heads together before our God; our collective whisper will roar through the earth bringing hope, truth, love, freedom and so much more to the dark spots of this world…yes, go ahead and own the though & lift your voice!

Maybe you’ve read the book or it’s on you “to read” list!  Perhaps you’ve heard the whisper and your own whisper has turned into a roar!  Like me, you might not have known that you’ve heard the whisper…the small still voice, but if you don’t mind do share your thoughts.

So my sweet lioness-sisters, what do you think lifting your voice will “look” like?

Love you more than eggs on toast!