Have you ever been in a situation where you asked for someone’s help, let’s say your car broke down and you need someone to pick you up on the side of the road, and when your ‘friend’ responds, it’s with a drawn out sigh, “ugh, yeah, I guess I can get you. I was in the middle of something, but if you need me, I will basically drag myself there.” *Emphasis and dramatization is mine.
Well, you’ve received help, but it only makes you feel more hopeless because they clearly don’t want to come to your rescue, but you’re desperate. So, what do you do?
Similarly, God knows us from the inside out, and He knows if our ‘yes’ is a ‘no’ in our hearts. He wants us to delight in His requests, not despise His voice. He doesn’t need our assistance, but He chooses to work with His creation to accomplish great things (Acts 17:24-28).
Ecclesiastes 5:5 says, “It is better not to make a vow, than to make one and not fulfill it,” NIV. We need to be careful what we agree to because every word and action will one day be judged.
The Power of A Willing Heart
Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, Here I am. And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me. But Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 1 Samuel 3:4–5, NIV.
Samuel did not know the voice of the Lord, but it is important to note that he had a spirit to listen. Samuel ran to Eli without hesitation because he had submitted to his authority. This story teaches me to have a willing spirit and a servant’s heart.
It all began with “Here I am.”
The voice of the Lord continued to call out to Samuel in the night, but it wasn’t until the fourth time that Samuel could differentiate the voice of Eli, from the voice of the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:10 explains, “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
How Can I Hear God’s Voice?
Many people ask, “How can I hear the voice of the Lord?” Well, it may be that God has been speaking to you, but you have not known the tone and cadence of His voice just yet. This takes time.
Repetition is not always a sign of disobedience. Samuel was unlearned and growing in the Lord. He was in the house of the Lord when he heard God’s voice, but it took time for him to realize who was speaking to him.
Many times God is trying to teach us how He speaks. For me personally, God speaks to me when I am surrounded by nature and when I’m sitting quietly after praying. However, you may hate being in the middle of the woods, so it is very possible that God will speak to you in another place and in another way.
Repetition in a written narrative is a literary device to emphasize a certain point or to help a reader remember a key lesson. In the story of Samuel, we can learn that God is patient when He is trying to teach us how to test and prove His will. It is also important to focus on Samuel’s willingness to answer the call by saying, “Here I am.”
Today, maybe you desire to learn how to hear the voice of the Lord. If that is your aspiration, then pray, “Here I am. Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Prayer: Lord, I desire to be a willing vessel. I do not want to make decisions without Your direction in my life and I pray that you would help me hear Your voice. I know that You are speaking to me, but there is so much noise around me that can be a distraction. Lord, here I am, use me for Your service.
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