Morning Devotional 100724 Listen! God is Speaking!

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  October 7, 2024

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! It is a beautiful day to praise God!

Have you ever been in a crowded place and thought you heard someone calling your name? You look around, try to find the source, or walk toward the sound. When you don’t find the source, maybe you shake your head and go about your business. What if the calling of your name continues? You repeat your search for the source. 

Samuel heard God calling his name and went to Eli, the only one near, and asked what he needed. Eli said, “I didn’t call you.” This was repeated three times. Finally, Eli realized God was calling Samuel and told Samuel to lie back down and answer with the words, “Speak. Your servant is listening.”

How do we know if God is speaking to us? My conversations are often in the middle of the night when other distractions aren’t cluttering my heart and mind. Maybe God speaks to us in crowded and chaotic places so we don’t feel lost and alone. I do believe that we must be open to listening to hear God’s words. 

This leads us back to building a relationship with God. Spending special time with God each day teaches us to lean in and listen for God to speak to us. God is the source of our lives. 

Dear Lord, We are your children! Sometimes it's so noisy that we can’t hear you clearly. Help us set aside time to listen. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God is speaking to those who are listening. 

Listen! God is speaking! Pastor Liz