“And the LORD called to Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you did call me.’ Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak LORD, for Your servant hears. ‘So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel answered, Speak, for Your servant hears.’”(1 Samuel 3:8-10)
In the Scripture above we have a part of the story of how God was teaching the young boy Samuel to be a man that was attentive to the voice of God and would be listening when God wanted to tell him something. It could be something for himself or those around him but he needed to learn to listen to what the prophet Elijah called; the “still small voice.’ (“And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12)
When we go into our prayer time we more often than not have a list of things to pray for and things that are on our minds to petition our Lord for that may be personal or for the benefit of other people that God has put on our hearts. All this is good, He has told us to do this. ( (See John 16:24 and Matthew 21:22) But there is another part to your time in prayer and it is the time when you listen. God wants to speak to your heart also. Are you listening also?
So after you have spent some time alone talking to your “Daddy” then take some time to listen. But don’t forget to tell Him that whatever He tells you you will also obey! Of course,He knows if you will obey or not but make up your mind before hand that you will obey and then you can listen with apprehension and joy knowing that He will be pleased with you as you show Him how much you love Him.
Bob Sorge has these words of wisdom about the importance of hearing what our Lord is trying to tell you when you listen. “I realized that everything in the kingdom depends upon hearing His voice. When we hear, the greatest treasures of the kingdom open to us. This is the wellspring of eternal life; this is the fountainhead of kingdom power and authority; this is the source of wisdom, understanding, and counsel. Nothing can replace the confidence and authority that comes from hearing God. Things find their right alignment when we hear from God and act upon His word. Hearing God’s voice has become the singular quest of my life. Nothing else can satisfy the deep longings of my heart…..Talking to God is delightful, but it’s even more thrilling when He talks to us. I’m realizing He has more important things to say than I. Things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me. When I talk, nothing happens; when God talks, universes come into existence. The power of prayer is not in convincing God of my agenda but in waiting for Him to reveal His agenda.”(Bob Sorge, Secrets Of the Secret Place, p.19)
Are you ready for some time alone with your Father today? Go to your “Secret Place” and get ready to listen; He is already there waiting for you.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you that You are always ready to meet with me when I come to talk to you; to bear my soul, to cry out to You, or just to spend time in Your Word and listen to what You have to tell me.
Forgive me for the times when I have heard You speak to me and I did not listen properly. I did not hear or I heard and did not obey.
Help me today to listen and respond to You quickly, as I know that whatever You tell me to do is not only the best response for my own good, it is the only response deserving of the love You have shown me.
