Speak Lord

 

“Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

How many times did the Lord call Samuel before Samuel answered Him? Three times. For us, it can take many, many more times, I think. Samuel was living with Eli the priest, in the shrine of the Lord in Shiloh. His mother had dedicated Samuel to God. We are not so blessed as to have nothing to do but devote all our time and energy to God. Samuel was already learning at a young age how to listen to the Lord.

How important it is to reserve a quiet time for the Lord so He can speak to us! 

Steve Clark in his book, "Catholics and the Eucharist: A Scriptural Introduction," wrote: "There is nothing more important than to have God speak to us. We belong to a relatively self-confident human race. We live after centuries of technological development. We can handle more and more of the uncertainties of life, acquire more and more knowledge, power, and comfort. Those of us who are adults with an adequate education, job, financial standing, and home often feel that we can get our lives to go much the way we want them to.

"Yet, we also know that tragedy may happen to us or those close to us. We know we are not doing well with our responsibilities in various respects, and the consequences may be bad for us and others. Accidents also may happen at any time. Furthermore, even though we resist the thought, we know that a destructive global war that might destroy all we hold dear is still possible. And we all know we will die one day and perhaps become helplessly incapacitated before that."

Yes we could be on the brink of a global war even now. There is just so much happening on so many fronts and many countries are teetering on precipices of their own making. But even if we do not think of world affairs, there are challenges we have to deal with at home, with our friends and neighbors. My sisters and I pray together every day and our intercessory list just gets longer and longer. 

What is God trying to tell us? CS Lewis wrote that, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world…”

Speak Lord, Your servants are listening. Help us to hear You and hear Your words.