There is a little boy in the Old Testament that teaches my heart every time I read his story. His entire life was lived in the truth of understanding that God is Sovereign and his ultimate authority. He was a servant in the temple and he became a mighty prophet. His mother was a woman of virtue and demonstrated her loyalty to God by keeping her promise to bring her son to the temple at a very young age and leaving him there!. It was one dark night while living in the temple that this little child heard the voice of God calling him. I SAM. 3: 4-10 This boys name was Samuel and Samuel listened when God spoke.
For those of us who call ourselves moms and grandmas there is a flawless message that screams for our attention in this timeless record. We, like Samuel, need to listen and hear what God is saying to us. Our busy lives with its multitude ofdistraction finds us sacrificing the permanent on the altar of the immediate. We desperately need to heed the voice of God when He speaks to us.
It is imperative to tune in:
Ø Dependently – Apart from the Spirit teaching us we cannot hear His voice. I Cor. 2:12
Ø Submissively – trusting that whatever He brings into our life is going to be received with gratefulness…no resistance to His will. If we have no unconfessed sin and no unresolved relationships we are in right relationship with God.
Ø Expectantly – anticipating His speaking to us…not doubting His ability to talk to us. Heb.11: 6
Ø Silently- He whispers…we need to be quiet. Psalm 62: 5 It is vital that we are inaudible and let Him do the talking. Psa. 46: 10 Instead of reading a list of requests…we should be pausing and listening to that still small voice.
Ø Gratefully – listening carefully and understanding that trials plus acceptance with gratefulness grow us up! I Cor. 4: 7
Ø Sincerely – eagerly listening to His voice and doing what is right with transparent motives. I Peter 1: 22
Ø Reverently – Respectfully, even in awe, accepting that God is using the people and events in our life to produce His character in us…regardless of our circumstances.
Ø Boldly – God communicates what is essential. We need to confidently listen and accept what we need to hear. Matt. 7: 11
Ø Attentively– showing God His worth and how much we appreciate His words to us by giving Him our undivided attention as He speaks to us. Heb. 2:1
Ø Joyfully – elatedly listening with the enthusiasm of our spirit as our soul is in harmony with His will. Psa. 16:11
Ø Patiently – accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it. Rom. 5: 3-4
This morning I received a phone call from one of the dearest persons I know on the face of this earth asking for prayer for her husband who is in the hospital and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her heart was heavy but her spirit was accepting with gratefulness God’s Sovereignty. I had started this blog yesterday and did not realize how valuable it would be to me; personally, as I drop to my knees and begin to listen for His voice and pray…
Are You Listening?
Can you hear His voice??
“He who has ears to hear let him hear…” Matt. 11: 15
“He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God”. John 8:47
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
