lt is interesting to note that Elijah, a prophet who was accustomed to hearing God's voice in various ways, did not find God in strong wind, earthquake or fire. There was a certain selectivity in the way he recognized God. You might expect, then, that you too will find God in certain sounds rather than others.

Besides the gentle wind that spoke to Elijah of God, there are other sounds of nature that might be God-filled for you. The songs of birds, the chirping of crickets, the buzzing of bees are all tiny voices of nature reminding you of the Creator. Or perhaps you are more attracted to the rolling thunder, the sound of rain pelting your windows, the roaring of the wind. Spend some time just listening to nature speaking to you of God.

Many people find that music has the power to touch the depths of their souls, moving them to respond with gratitude and joy to the Lord. If you have never experienced God through music, perhaps you would like to experiment with some works of Tchaikovsky, Mozart or Beethoven. Just sit quietly, with your mind and body at rest, and let the music carry you with its flow. Feel the melody resonating in your mind and heart. Become part of this harmonious beauty rising to God. Let God speak to you through these sounds around you and within you, and respond as the Spirit moves you.

When you pray with music, it is important that its mood fits your spiritual mood at the time. If you listen to a light, cheerful composition when you are feeling sad, your sorrow may lighten. More likely, however, the joyful harmonies will feel jarring to you, out of tune with your inner mood. You may feel this same lack of harmony if you listened to sad music when you are feeling especially happy and joyful. Listen to a number of compositions until you find the one that is just right for you today. Some selections (Vivaldi's Four Seasons, for instance) provide a variety of tempos and themes which may evoke a number of different feelings.

There is one musical composition which I believe belongs in a class all by itself. Handel's Messiah, encompassing as it does the whole life of Jesus, has a special power to touch the human heart. No matter how you are relating to God, you will find parts of the Messiah in harmony with your inner aspirations. Such compositions help you get a feel of the way music can fit your spiritual mood.

You may prefer to listen to hymns. Many new sacred songs that express the inner dispositions of a person seeking God have been composed within the past 10 years. As you listen to these words set to beautiful melodies, you can make them your own by singing along or just letting the words echo in your heart. You will want to listen to a variety of songs until you find one whose words express to God what is in your heart now.

Try to be very sincere in using this type of prayer. Some songs are perhaps too sentimental to be a true expression of your faith and love. Keep looking for words that echo honestly in your heart. After some experimenting, you will find a favorite few that you can listen to over and over again. Quantity is not important; authenticity is.

If no recordings are available to you, sing some of your favorites. If you forget the words, you might put your own words to a favorite melody. Your voice may sound off-key, even to you, but to God your song sounds beautiful because it comes from your heart.

The human voice mediates God to us in many ways with the greatest richness. You have already considered how helpful songs can be as a foundation for prayer. You have probably experienced in the past how a conversation with a friend can be a source of grace for you. Thank God now for the many times he has revealed himself through the human voice.

The sound of your own voice can also enrich your prayer. Have you ever tried reading Scripture aloud, making the prayers you find there your own? Psalms especially lend themselves to this kind of prayer; they fit nearly every condition of the human heart. For example:

Be flexible in your praying of the Psalms. Feel free to skip some lines if they do not reflect what is in your heart.

Other sounds, though not in themselves prayers, can be a call to prayer: for example, the often annoying sound of a ringing telephone. As you hear the phone ring you might think of it as a call to prayer. As you respond to the person on the other end of the line with kindness and cheerfulness, you are prayerful.

God reveals his presence to you in countless ways. Each time you respond to God's presence in a loving way you are praying.

Your comments or questions may be mailed to:swifthelen@hotmail.com

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