Morning Devotional 060425 The Blessings of Silence

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

June 4, 2025

1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 Now the boy Samuel was serving the LORD under Eli. The LORD’s word was rare at that time, and visions weren’t widely known. 2 One day Eli, whose eyes had grown so weak he was unable to see, was lying down in his room. 3 God’s lamp hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was lying down in the LORD’s temple, where God’s chest was. 4 The LORD called to Samuel. “I’m here,” he said. 5 Samuel hurried to Eli and said, “I’m here. You called me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go lie down.” So he did. 6 Again the LORD called Samuel, so Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “I’m here. You called me?” “I didn’t call, my son,” Eli replied. “Go and lie down.” 7 (Now Samuel didn’t yet know the LORD, and the LORD’s word hadn’t yet been revealed to him.) 8 A third time the LORD called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “I’m here. You called me?” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD. Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down where he’d been. 10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling just as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak. Your servant is listening.”

Good Morning! “Speak, Your servant is listening.”

Are we listening? I know that even when I think I’m listening, I often realize that I forgot to listen. I think most of us are bombarded with so much noise and words around us that sometimes we zone out. Maybe we zone out to escape the world, or we zone out because the noise is too much, too overwhelming. 

Personally, I need and crave silence. I recognize this need for silence is in direct contrast to my love of music. I watch the younger generations who constantly wear earbuds and wonder how they can withstand the constant sound and/or noise. 

When I spend most of the day in a noisy venue, the silence refreshes me like a drink of cool water on a hot day. It is during the silence that I feel attuned and ready to listen to God. I also appreciate the conversations between me and God, which require no formed words. 

Giving Lord, who blesses us abundantly! Blessings come in the silence that we allow ourselves to create. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God, who speaks, also listens to the yearnings of our hearts.

Grace yourself with silence! Pastor Liz