1 SAMUEL 3:9-10

 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

TO PONDER 

A man was having difficulty communicating with his wife and suspected she may have a hearing problem. He decided to conduct a test without her knowing about it.

One evening he sat in a chair on the far side of the room. Her back was to him, and she couldn’t see him. Very quietly he whispered, "Can you hear me?" There was no response. Moving a little closer, he asked again, "Can you hear me now?" Still no reply. Quietly he edged closer and whispered the same words, but still no answer. Finally, he moved right in behind her chair and said, "Can you hear me now?" To his surprise she responded with irritation in her voice, "For the fourth time, yes!" 

Do you hear God’s voice? Even Samuel didn’t realise it was God the first few times. A lot of the time we don’t hear the voice of God, and maybe it is because we are too easily distracted by the world we live in. So many choices and so many distractions demanding our time and our attention. So many things getting in the way of hearing the voice of God - or maybe we’ve chosen not to hear him or are not willing to listen. The hearing problem is not with God. It is with us.   

If you know the voice of God, you have security. You are living securely. A living security means living without fear. A living security means fear is pushed aside. 

Take the time each day, and maybe it’s about now when you read these devotions, to stop. Stop and listen. To be still and listen for the voice of God.   

PRAYER: Help us dear God, to eliminate the distractions of this life, so we can hear what you have to say to us. Help us listen closely, and then respond to whatever it is you are telling us. Amen  

Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping