"SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS!"

1 Samuel 3:7-10                    (ESV)
"7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "SPEAK, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS."



Sitting here with no noise happening around me is a rather splendid thing.  There is nothing quite like hearing nothing but an occasional automobile in the distance.  Samuel was in the quietness of the Temple and GOD was trying to speak to him, but he had no experience listening to GOD!  There are times when GOD is speaking to me and I initially don't recognize HIM, nor HIS voice.

Eli was experienced in hearing from GOD, but the voice of the LORD was rare in those days (1 Samuel 3:1) and even Eli wasn't adept at hearing when he should have.  Eli's sons were not in tune with the things of the LORD and could not hear from GOD.  THEY PROBABLY WERE UNABLE TO HEAR FROM GOD BECAUSE TGEY WERE TOO BUSY LIVING A SELFISH LIFESTYLE THAT GLORIFIED THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF GOD.

My prayer is that I will be like Samuel and say "SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS."  GOD will generally speak to those who take the time, and slow their lives down enough, to hear from HIM!  Keeping pace with "this world" will more than likely guarantee us to be like Eli's sons and NOT hear from GOD!  Cause me LORD to SLOW MY LIFE DOWN and say "SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS!!"