Lenten Journey - Feb. 29

^{1 Samuel 3:1-11}

¹ The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

 ² One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the LORD called Samuel.

   Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ 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.

 ⁶ 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.”

 ⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

 ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.

 ¹⁰ The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

   Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

 ¹¹ And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.

Don't you hate that feeling when you are walking in a crowded place and someone calls your name but you can't find the person? Or how about when your all alone and you hear your name but when you look around no one is there? I hate that feeling. It actually happened to me yesterday as I was walking back to my car from class. Someone called out "hey, Austin" but as I turned to look among the cars I couldn't find anyone. Creepy feeling isn't it?

I imagine Samuel felt the same way when God spoke to him but he couldn't find God. Samuel thought it was Eli but Eli was sleeping. Finally after Samuel woke him up three times Eli realized what was happening. He told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." So, Samuel did as Eli had told him to do and there before him was God speaking to him. 

I know I miss the voice the God all the time. I get caught up in all my STUFF and I fail to hear God speaking over and over again directly to me! Have you ever just stopped and realized how busy you are? When is the last time you sat in complete silence with no outside "noise?" 

Last Wednesday night I found myself in the inner depths of the Earth's core. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up. Our Mission Team journeyed down into a cave on the Island of Eluethera, The Bahamas exploring an underground cave where stalactites and stalagmites were our general surroundings. We came to this open cavern after trekking half an hour. It was probably 40X40X40...so pretty big. The cavern was filled with huge rocks where if you stood on them it was similar to that scene in the Lion King ...you know what I'm talking about. You were the King of the World!!! After we all calmed down we decided to turn off all the lights and sit in complete silence. It was completely silent with the darkest dark surrounding you that you will ever experience. It was wonderful. Most of the girls didn't like it, though. It was enlightening to me how uncomfortable those moments were. Notice I said moments, because most people simply couldn't handle it, and they broke the silence with laughter, screams or silent sobs! I wish I could have those moments more often. Moments where nothing could interrupt the silence. Maybe then would I start listening for the voice of God and not listening to the "noise" in my life. 

For Lent, I am walking with God through the wilderness of thanksgiving. I want to live in a season where I am honest with myself about all the things I have been blessed with. I want to live in a season where I am humbly seeking God's face and His plan for my life. It's in the moments where I can be completely silent, observing all that is around me, is where I meet God. 

The hardest part is the listening and the silence....

I've been living my life similar to Samuel. I've been focusing on all the wrong things, missing God when he speaks to me. God has been calling my name over and over again, yet I am completely caught up in my own life that I have failed to get caught up in the life God wants me to live. 

Over the past few weeks God has been making Himself known to me over and over again because I am living in a season of expectancy. I don't want to be surprised by God, I want to KNOW that God is speaking to me, will speak to me and has spoken to me. God's hands are at work all around me and I pray that I will take the time to stop, listen, notice and hear the still, small voice of God.

Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.