give me samuel’s ear
I love the story of Samuel. For so many reasons. But mostly because he knew how to hear the voice of God.
Even as a boy, he heard God speaking to him. And he learned to respond to His voice with, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” God spoke. Samuel listened. And he put feet to what he heard.
Too often I approach God with an (unspoken) mindset of, “Listen, for Your servant is speaking.” And while I know I need to pour out my heart to Him, even greater is my need for Him to pour out His heart to me.
Jesus promises that His sheep know and hear His voice. I’ve been leaning in close lately to hear every word. I don’t want to miss a thing. I don’t want to miss His words because I’m not paying attention or won’t shut my own mouth. I don’t want to dismiss what He’s saying because it doesn’t make sense, or sounds too difficult, or seems too good to be true. I don’t want to disregard Him by giving more weight to the words of others.
I want to hear even His faintest of whispers. God shouldn’t have to raise His voice to get my attention.
I want to follow closely, hear clearly, and obey directly. Give me Samuel’s ear.
What’s God whispering to you lately?
Yet again, your words jump off the screen and make my heart jump and go “YES.”
When I was a young Christian, He would speak so clearly, because He wanted me to have no doubts, like a baby needs to be reassured constantly that the parent is nearby. Nowadays, I can tell it’s more His whispering things to my heart where I go, “Did I just…..?” Or “Was that just MY thought?” I can see He’s training me to recognize that it IS Him, and not to doubt.
These past several weeks has been a time more where He’s spoken very clearly, which I’ve needed. One is “Do not be anxious about these things.” We know He’s always near, but when He shows just HOW near like that……….. it takes my breath away. And reassures me GREATLY.
totally that God is bigger then money and bigger then all things.
i put him in a box instead of letting him be God which is beyond everything.
its a shame but i am learning more and more everyday.
HE is so Good and gets you at the right moments.
he totally told me that while i was working out and i just broke down.
Gods good like that.
@knights_lady says:
The Killers have a song out called ‘Human’. The meaning of the lyrics is hotly debated. This song has been playing in my head for a while. For me, God is speaking about love being a verb. He has breathed His Spirit into me. For a purpose.
“Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold”
Am I a marrionette – movement but no heartbeat, no blood flowing? or Am I human – dust with God-breathed life – filled with His Spirit?
A Tim Hughes song:
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
Fill us up and send us out Lord
…make me human again.
This week has been soo challenging and interesting in that I”ve been hearing Him saying it’s time to let go!! Today I kno for a fact that my heart has given in, I am ready for a new level, whatever that means.
Love u so much, girl!!
Surrender…Michael…surrender.
i have more than enough strength…you just have to let go and let ME hold you…
Be still and KNOW that I am God!
@cassgirl says:
Step out and do not be afraid.
@danielleH says:
humility…and thankfulness.
He whispers “I truly love you”
@moweezle says:
Ohhhhh, I also love the story of Samuel. Such lessons to be learned from a little boy :)
@atangie says:
Hmm… this is a big challenge for me right now.
That He has been with me the whole time- maybe to look beside me and see that His hand is gripping mine.
@danielleH says:
wanna hear somethin’ funny? i have 1,767 comments — you have over 10xs!! thats hilarious. its cuz youre cool!
@atangie says:
She is SO cool!
i don’t think it’s because i’m cool. but… i’ll take it!
Alece,
I don’t know how you do it, but the things you write speak volumes to me. Not occasionally, but very, very often. Thank you for the grit you share…As you pour it out, God covers it with grace.
i love the mental image of what you just said. God covers my grit with grace. so, so beautiful…
thank you for your kind words.
Oh my Lord. (I’ve used that phrase 3 times today). You got me.
:/ How well this strikes home.
Dear God, that wrecked me. Thank you for saying that.
My faith has been so taxed lately I wouldn’t mind very much at all if He screamed to get my attention. I want to wake up from this nightmare of despairing doubt.
He knows.
He’s shouting.
I find it interesting (just now, pondering this) that the Bible references many places where it says the voice of the Lord is like “the thunder of many waters.” Pretty loud, huh? If thunder and the roar of a giant waterfall is a good sound descriptive of His voice … He certainly has the capacity. Yet at the same time, there are references to the “still, small voice” – that spoke to Samuel, that spoke to Elijah … and the promise in Isaiah “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” I guess He is capable of talking at any volume. The question is what is His preference with me?
I know the voices of my family. Very. very. well. I can hear the voice of my sister in a large crowd. I do not actually have to hear her voice over everyone else’s … because my ears automatically hear hers better than anyone else’s. I think this is what He has in mind when He says, “My sheep hear My voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow.” He has always desired relationship. Could He yell to get my attention? yes. Has He? yes. And I completely understand the feeling of wishing He would. Don’t get me wrong. Been there many times. Will be there again. many times. with no doubt. (And therefore I’m not in any way invalidating where anyone else is, I’m just talking out of how I’m hearing this right now for my life.) Is yelling His best for me? Or is it that He ‘walk and talk with me in the cool of the evening’ as He did with Adam? His desire is of a relationship that is ‘closer than a brother’ … and in that relationship … He shouldn’t have to yell to get my attention.
(But by the way Friend there is something of His called a bellowing war cry, and its intent is to shatter the ear of His enemies. I believe this is what you are wanting to hear. Not at you, but for you. And yes. He does have an outside voice. :) )
this was seriously great. i’m glad you came back and piped up again, annie!
i’ve loved hearing some of God’s whispers to your hearts… thanks, guys, for being willing to share that window into your lives.
“What’s God whispering to you lately?”
Do not worry.
I often can’t put my thoughts into words until I have these wonderful prompts from you.
God’s been reminding me that His ways are not my ways. Wow.
@danielleH says:
20,000?
i want it
ha ha ha ha!
Maybe…. maybe if we just spam her with comments… :-D
@bajanpoet says:
I love Samuel’s story… reading your post and the comments has my heart stirred… Lord, keep speaking…
God’s been showing me restoration of late… I’m in awe…
Lovely site, btw Alece… I think this is my first visit) :)
i love samuel’s story, too. there’s so much rich truth packed in there. how ’bout verse 1 – “samuel ministered before the Lord” – and verse 7 – “now samuel did not yet know the Lord.” the reality that i can get so caught up in doing ministry for the Lord that i miss out on actually knowing Him. man. gets me every time.
restoration is the theme of my life lately. i cling to His promise of shalom—nothing missing, nothing broken. mmm….
oh! and welcome to the grit!
@bajanpoet says:
I love the fact that Samuel gave the word to Eli and didn’t miss anything… and because of his obedience, the Bible said that God didn’t let any of Samuel’s words fall to the ground…. I endeavour to keep God’s word above my own, and not let them fall….
oooh that’s so good. i’m gonna hang out there a while. that needs to sink in.
to be still
to be near
and I have been, having some amazing quite time with Him. Its funny today I get into work and being slammed after taking off yesterday and just thinking I have so many women to connect to small groups, graphics to do for a bible study, how am I going to get this all done and even leave my desk for a bathroom break before noon…then I found out I had a staff meeting…and when I sit down… I am quite and reflective and though…yes Lord I will be still …be still my soul..because I know you are here and I know you want me to hear what you are trying to tell me….and we are talking in part about
One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God
and here I am trying to sustain myself on my own bread…even when I am at work…
ha!
boy does he have allot to say when we listen.
“trying to sustain myself on my own bread”. i do that a lot. well-said, jessica.
I read this back when I was catching up on your blog and it has stuck with me and stayed in my mind ever since. So I googled it and read it again so the words would be fresh in my heart and mind. I had been thinking of looking for a book about how to hear the voice of God or listening for Gods voice when it accord to me that Gods voice is screaming to me from the Bible and all I need to do is open it to hear Him, the God of the universe speak loud and clear to me, no special listening course required. Thanks for this blog that has so many great lessons to learn. I could have a blog in response to what I learn from yours!
@gritandglory says:
this meant so, so much to me, faith. thank you.
Very great thoughts. I love what you said about not really hearing God because it sounds to good to be true. Makes me think of the movie Pretty Woman… when Julia tells Richard that the “bad stuff is easier to believe.” Why is it so difficult to believe God has all sorts of good things for us?
@coloraturajoy says:
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this reminder. This is literally the word that’s been on my heart for weeks, months. I want so deeply to be filled up by God’s Words to me…and yet I still find myself battling to shut up and listen.
God is the One who sustains me. I need His words.