Have you ever had a feeling that you needed to do some act of goodness? Maybe a name came to your mind along with the thought, “She needs a friend; you should reach out.” Or maybe a decision had been weighing on you, when you received a sudden spark of clarity and somehow you knew—beyond your own reasoning—what you should do. You may have felt a nudge to apologize to someone. Or perhaps a message came to your heart that helped you see someone with more patience and compassion.
We often call these thoughts and feelings “promptings,” and sometimes they’re so subtle and so unexpected, we wonder where they came from. The answer is that if it invites you to do good, to be kind, to help others, to love God and serve Him, it comes from God.[1]
Anciently, the prophet Elijah learned about the Lord’s quiet promptings. Elijah was known for some remarkable manifestations of divine power. He sealed the heavens to keep rain from falling, and he called down fire from the sky—all in an attempt to persuade people to turn to the Lord. But it wasn’t working. Alone, exhausted, and discouraged, Elijah fled for his life and hid in a cave. There the Lord spoke to Elijah, but not in a “strong wind” or an “earthquake” or a “fire.” Instead, Elijah found Him in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11–12).
To hear a quiet voice, we need to be quiet too. We may miss the grandeur of God, as well as His quiet whisperings, if we surround ourselves with too much busyness and noise. God does want to speak to you. He wants to whisper comfort and reassurance. He wants to offer guidance. And there may be some prompting He wants to give, some good thing He’d like you to do.
When we settle down enough to listen to that still, small voice, when we respond to a whispering nudge to do something good, we’re answering a call from God.
[1] See Moroni 7:13.
March 24, 2024
Broadcast Number 4932
The Tabernacle Choir
Orchestra at Temple Square
BYU Singers and Andrew Crane
Conductor
Mack Wilberg
Organist
Brian Mathias
Host
Lloyd Newell
Glory to God on High
Felice de Giardini; Arr. Mack Wilberg
Hallelujah Chorus, from Christ on the Mount of Olives
Ludwig van Beethoven
Have I Done Any Good?
Will L. Thompson; Arr. David A. Zabriskie
Toccata in Seven
John Rutter
This Little Light of Mine
Harry Dixon Loes; Arr. Stacey Gibbs
Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends
English folk tune; Arr. Mack Wilberg