God's Voice

I’ve started reading 1 Samuel and chapter 3 stuck out to me. In chapter 3 Samuel is alone in the temple one night when he heard God’s voice. At first he didn’t recognize it and ran to Eli, Eli told him it was God’s voice and that he should listen to what is said. God then told Samuel a prophecy about Eli (if you want to know more you can read the whole book it’s right after Ruth and before 2 Samuel). This passage got me thinking about God’s voice and asking how often do we hear it? Think how often during your day do you hear God calling you? All I know is not as often as I should. But I guess the better question is how often do we listen? Israel was in a rough time, in the book of judges we are told repeatedly that “there was no king and everyone did as he saw fit.” In 1 Samuel chapter 3 we are told “In those days the word of the Lord was rare.” It’s not that God wasn’t speaking; it’s that no one was listening. Samuel was alone, he wasn’t working, he wasn’t busy; there were no deadlines to be met no phone calls to be made he was going to sleep. And in the silence in the calmness of life God spoke. Samuel heard God’s voice because there was no interference, like a phone disconnection the tasks of life can get in the way and cause static. God is always talking to us, but how often do we listen? How often do we get caught up in it all and find ourselves unable to hear His call? I ask you this, what is it in your life that hinders your “reception” what is it that keeps you from being all that God wants you to be? God has a plan for us, a life to live we just need to be like Samuel who listened and obeyed.