Speak, for your servant is listening.

Sometimes, I think I forget to just sit and listen to the Lord.

I get so busy, and so distracted by my daily tasks.

Today, it felt like the Lord threw a million things at me at once, and I sat in the library trying to study for my final exams and I just felt like I was trapped or frozen in my own thoughts and worries.

I tried to ignore the feeling. I tried to focus harder on studying, to zone out everything else.

But it wasn't working, and I ended up returning to my room feeling discouraged,unaccomplished, and anxious beyond words.

It was then that I sat down and just opened up my Bible.

I stumbled upon a story in a book of the Bible I had never read. I'm not really sure what led me here, to be honest.

The passage was 1 Samuel 3:4-10.

"Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, 'Here I am.'

and he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.'

But Eli said, 'I did not call; go back and lie down.' So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, 'Samuel!'

And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, you called me.'

'My son,' Eli said, 'I did not call; go back and lie down.'

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord; the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

A third time the Lord called, 'Samuel!'

And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.'

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.

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!"

As I read this, I realized a few things.

The first thing that I realized was that sometimes, the Lord is calling me, and it may take me a few times, or three, like Samuel, to realize its God.

It is easy to mistake the voice of God as other things. It is far too easy to get caught up in the tasks of life and miss the Lord's voice.

The second thing I learned was how important it is to just sit and listen. God wants to hear our prayers, hear our struggles, and hear our victories. But sometimes, what we really need is to just listen. Take a few minutes and hear what He has to say.

Lastly I was reminded of the courage and strength that it takes to be a servant of the Lord. Samuel didn't even know the Lord, and then Eli, his teacher, explained that the calling was coming from God, and not from Eli himself.

I was inspired by Samuel's willingness to here the Lord, follow His calling, and be at peace with what He has to say. I think it is all too easy to forget that sometimes, we just have to stop, sit at the feet of Jesus, and listen to Him.

xoxo,
Kenzie