samuel, saul, you and me

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a broken world. That very fact has brought you here today… joining millions of people around the world to lift up our prayers to an amazing, loving God.

While we are definitely called to offer our prayers before God, I wonder today how many times I have been called upon by my Lord to answer someone’s prayer… a call that I simply chose to ignore. The stranded driver I saw disappear in my rear view mirror. The phone call I was too busy to make. The time I was so obsessed with my own life that I simply failed to respond. I can’t lie to you: I felt the “nudge”. But I chose not to listen. And when the nudge became too obvious to miss, I simply chose not to obey.

Last month, Kansas Bob reminded us that there are times when we are called upon to be angels. But these prayers are only answered when you and I listen and obey.

My prayer today is that we as Christ followers will have the confidence and fortitude to answer the prayers we are called upon to answer. My prayer today is that we – the readers and visitors of this site – hone our ability to listen and our desire to obey.

I am reminded of Samuel, who as a young boy heard the whisper, and with the help of his mentor, he trained himself to hear God’s voice.

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Later in the book of Samuel, there is a time when Saul is given clear instructions. More than a whisper, he hears in clearly spoken words: this is what God wants you to do. But Saul instead follows his own well-intentioned plan. He chose not to obey.

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

My prayer today is that we all respond when we hear the whisper. That we all get past the temptation of divination and arrogance and simply obey. Lord – let us not only pray, please use us today to answer the prayers of others. Give is the confidence and fortitude to serve as your angels. Help us to listen. Mold our hearts so we obey.

Amen

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