Finding God's Will in the Quiet

Have you ever wondered what God wanted you to do? It seems like you pray and pray and never seem to get an answer. You did everything that you could think of and still got no answer. Doesn't it seem like God just left you hanging? Well I promise you that God has never and will never "leave you hanging". The answer is simple. It is so simple that most people never even think to give it a passing thought.I have had this question before however so I am a little bit more prepared. One of my close friends once told me that he had no idea what God wanted him to do during the current stage of his life. He kept telling me that he prayed and prayed and never seemed to get an answer from God.I looked him in the eyes and said, "If you where going to throw a party for me what kind would it be?". He paused and thought for a moment and said, "Well, It would probably be a small party where you and a few of your friends got together and just hung out". I replied, "How did you know that? I never told you." He simply looked back and said, "Well I've known you for several years now."This is the same way with God. You get to know God better by having a healthy relationship with Him. By knowing God you will be able to tell what he wants and needs you to do. But this is only one step.The second step its to listen to the voice of God and obey it. You might stop and ask, "Well how do i listen for Him? I have been listening and He is simply not responding." This, however, is not true. God has been responding, you just can't hear Him.I Kings 19: 11-13 says "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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 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?"What this means is that we fill our lives with so much noise that we never take the time and listen to the silence. We spend most of our time listening to the radio or watching T.V. but never take the time to have quiet time with God. Elijah waited on the mountain for God to appear to him. A great wind, earthquake, and fire passed in front of him but God was not in them. After it was all said and done the silence slowly crept in. Elijah still waited and in the silence heard the voice of God. We have to learn from what is said here. God does not put things in the Bible so that we do not learn from them. Everything has a purpose. Wait for God in the silence, get to know Him in a deep relationship, and be willing to follow Him when He calls you.