Hearing The Call

^{(1 Saumel 3)}

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.”

I love this passage from the Old Testament.  God was calling young Samuel, but every time Samuel heard the call, he went to the old Jewish Priest and asked him why he called.  But it wasn’t Eli who was calling, it was God.

I have to ask myself, how many times have I turned toward something else when God has called me? God’s call leads me to peace, happiness, and comfort, and yet I often turn to earthly things to fill those needs. 

God continues to call, and I continue to look in other directions.

So, here is my prayer:  God, help me to quiet the noise so that I can hear your call,
and respond to You (as Samuel did), “Speak, for your servant is listening.”