1 Samuel 3:1-10 God's Voice to Each of Us

This post comes out of a group discussion with some very dear people I met at a coaching training.

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of theLord was rare; there were not many visions.2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 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.6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealedto him.8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

In this passage the boy, Samuel, is living in the house of The Lord being raised by Eli, the priest. One night when Samuel was sleeping, he hears his name being called. He goes to Eli and says, "Here I am." But Eli had not called him and told him to go back to bed. This happens two more times. (Now if I were Samuel, I would have been freaking out just a little by that point.)

Finally on after the third time, Eli realizes that God is calling Samuel and instructs him to say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

So why didn't Samuel know who was calling him? The Scripture says that Samuel did not yet know God. Therefore, he had no experience in recognizing God's voice.

Eli gave Samuel a great gift that night. He did not say to Samuel, "It must be God. I'll talk to Him and let you know what He has to say." Instead, Eli told Samuel to respond and listen.

That night Samuel learned to listen for himself. He discovered what God's voice sounds like and that God would speak to him directly. And through that, Samuel experienced God.

Too often we try to be the voice of God for others forgetting that the same Holy Spirt who guides us can guide and counsel all people. In fact, He is even drawing to Himself those who don't yet know Him.

Father, thank You for Your own voice in my life. Use me to point others to You - to hear Your voice - and be forever changed. So be it.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who does God need you to direct toward Him?
2. How often do you try to be the voice of God for others? What harm can that cause?
3. How can you better listen for the voice of God?

Judges 1:1-2 "Always Ask First"

¹After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Which tribe should attack the Canaanites first?" ²The LORD answered, "Judah, for I have given them victory over the land." ~Judges 1:1-2 NLT

I have decided to tackle my first Old Testament book. The Old Testament is the history of the Israelite people and God's first covenant with man. Therefore, it can be difficult to glean practical lessons from listings of laws, battles, and prophesies. So I won't be going verse by verse in this study. However, there are many, many valuable lessons to be learned from the journey this amazing nation took to get where God wanted them as His chosen people. And, of course, God stopped me in my reading at verse 2.

Here the Israelites have just lost their beloved leader, Joshua, who had finally gotten them into the promised land after many years of wandering through the desert. Now they are faced with a dilemna -- how to remove the Canaanites from the land God has told them they are to live in. They immediately ask the Lord who should lead the charge, and He answers, "(The tribe of) Judah is to go...." Why is that significant?

What struck me was the fact that they immediately sought God's leading. How often do we face an obstacle and immediately stop and seek God's direction? Now may we may often do so in very large decisions or trials in our lives. We may ask for His direction in finding a job or asking for healing from a major illness or accident. And this is what the Israelites did. They sought God for a very big task at hand. And this is a good thing. I certainly do not want to take a job without knowing I am going where God wants me to be. And if I or a member of my family is facing a life-threatening illness, I am certainly going to claim healing in the name of Jesus. But what about all the other times....

How many times a day do I need to seek God's direction and don't? He desires to abide in every aspect of your life -- not just in the big decision or major crisis. Of course He wants you to seek Him in the "big" matters of life. But He is not just some super hero or mega-doctor. He is our Father who desires a relationship that is involved in every situation, every choice, every action of our life. He left His Holy Spirit here with us to maintain a running dialogue throughout our day -- guiding each step we take. Without His constant direction, I will be prone to selfish decisions and will miss out on amazing God-filled opportunities. I must connect with Him to begin each of my days, and then maintain that connection until I lay my head on the pillow at night. Without His guidance, I exist. With it, I live purposefully in His will. That is where I want to remain.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you just seek God's guidance in "big" moments of your life? Why?
2. Do you think God doesn't really care about this "little" parts of your life? If so, read Psalm 139.
   
3. What can you do to open that running dialogue connection with God in the morning?
4. How do you maintain the connection throughout the day?
5. How do we hear God's voice?
   
6. What big and small decisions do you need to take some concentrated alone time with Him to seek his guidance for? When will you do that?

Father, forgive me for the days I try to guide my own steps and only look to you for the "big" stuff. I need you every moment of every day because by myself, I will mess everything up. Holy Spirit, direct my steps today. I want to say what you would have me to say, to think what you would have me to think. To go and do what you would have me to do. And to remain in Your presence moment by moment. Amen.

James 4:13-17 "God's Plans"

Read James 4:13-17.

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." NIV

The majority of this passage seems to mostly talk about not always looking to the future, but to live life guided by the Lord. Planning is not a bad thing; goals can help motivate. But too often we can be so arrogant as to set so many goals that we don't seek the Lord's will for our life. We can just keep plugging forward in our own bubble without acknowledging that He may want to change our direction or we miss God-appointments along the way. God is saying here that these are sin -- evil.

I've never been accused of making too many future plans. I'm doing well if I know what I am doing tomorrow. So I could use some work in both living fully in the present and doing the things in the future God has told me to do. Definitely, verse 17 applies to me. It's so easy to wake up in the morning and think, "So what do I need to do today?" and just get going on it. But if I would stop and listen to what God wants me to do, I may not only have my plans for today, He may also give me future plans that will be on-going.

I want to be in the place and time that God wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do. And I never want to miss the spur-of-the-moment opportunities He puts in my path. If He needs me to do some future planning, I pray He shows me what to do.

Lord, I'm here to serve for Your pleasure. Guide my path today, tomorrow, and forever.

Further Thoughts:

1. Joseph was a man who flowed with where God allowed him to be. He took his location and opportunities as they came and followed God in leading His every move.
2. Do you make too many future plans without consulting the Lord? Are you just living your dreams, or are you living God's dreams?