Scripture: The LORD called Samuel a third time, 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. 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. The LORD came and stood there, calling as as the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (Samuel 3:8-10)
One great thing we must all be grateful for is that God doesn't call us a couple times and when we don't answer, give up! He keeps calling our name, "tapping us on our shoulder" in order to give guidance and direction. The LORD called Samuel three times. He may have kept on calling him, we will never know! But in this instance, God gave Eli the wisdom to tell Samuel what to do.
If you've been a Christian for long, and you're reading this, you know at times, God will use other people to speak His word into our lives. What's amazing to me is that He will sometimes use our closest Christian friends, and other times, he may use a stranger who is just passing through an airport, or someone you happen to share a class with or you see in church one time.
Another thing I take away from this passage is the importance of having mature believers close to us as we walk in our faith to help guide, interpret and encourage us in our walk. Mature believers in our lives are essential to our spiritual growth, as Eli was to Samuel for a season. It has been my experience, as it was Samuel's, that God often brings people to cross our paths for a lesson or two, and as we grow and learn, He will remove that person from our lives as we learn all we can from that individual. Then He brings another mature believer to cross our paths to learn something else.
Eli told Samuel exactly what to do, the next time he heard his name being called. And Samuel did as he was instructed. When we choose to really listen to the LORD - can YOU say to Him: "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening"? Can YOU say those words to Him? We have no idea what He's going to say, what direction he's going to take us in. Are you really ready to hear what he has to say to you? And then, are you ready to obey Him immediately? Or will you put Him off because of fear?
The Christian walk isn't an easy one. Unlike the military, God isn't a drill instructor who yells at us, and in fear, we jump and do as He commands. But like obedient soldiers, we should jump - not in fear, but in love and reverence, knowing He only wants the best for us. It's something we should all prepare our hearts for.
Prayer request: Pray for those who know they've been hearing God's voice, but haven't quite come to terms with responding to it. Pray also for those who want to hear His voice and haven't lately.
Prayer: Lord, we come to you humbly and ask You to help each of us hear Your voice, and to confidently stand before You and say those words: "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." We know You want only what is best for us, help us to be obedient to Your promptings. For those who have not heard from You in a while, we ask You to open their ears and prepare their hearts to respond when they finally do. Amen
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Guidance
Scripture: By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." (Exodus 13:21-22)
Out of curiosity, I often find myself wondering about the things not described in the bible. Like, how big or how small were these pillars of clouds and fire? I have to assume they weren't gargantuan, but not so small the Israelites had to squint to find them, either.
But what I find interesting is that in order for the Israelites to get to where they were going, they had to constantly keep an eye on the pillar of fire at night or the pillar of cloud in the day.
It brings to mind how we need to keep our eye on God now. Where is He guiding your life, and by what means is He using? Back then, there was a lot of sand; a few mountain ranges, sand dunes, the company of friends. But there weren't a whole lot of other distractions like we have now. As the electronic age continues to escalate, with more and more gizmos to make social networking easier and all the more important, it's harder to keep an eye on God and His direction for our lives.
God continues to guide our lives as he did the Israelites. He gives us sustenance and provision. He promises to be with us in the good times and in the bad. He's with us when we sin and when we are doing good for others.
So how is God guiding your life? What means is He using to say, "Hey! Pssst! Over here!" What pillar of cloud or pillar of fire is He guiding you with? It's going to be different for each one of us. But it's important to know how God talks to you - otherwise - how will you ever know when to turn your ear towards Him and really listen?
Prayer request: Pray for guidance and for God to make clear to you how He speaks to you.
Prayer: Lord, reveal Yourself to each of us every day. Make us so familiar with Your quiet and gentle voice, that we never have to ask You, "Is that You God?" Guide each of us, and help us to be obedient to Your calling. Amen
Out of curiosity, I often find myself wondering about the things not described in the bible. Like, how big or how small were these pillars of clouds and fire? I have to assume they weren't gargantuan, but not so small the Israelites had to squint to find them, either.
But what I find interesting is that in order for the Israelites to get to where they were going, they had to constantly keep an eye on the pillar of fire at night or the pillar of cloud in the day.
It brings to mind how we need to keep our eye on God now. Where is He guiding your life, and by what means is He using? Back then, there was a lot of sand; a few mountain ranges, sand dunes, the company of friends. But there weren't a whole lot of other distractions like we have now. As the electronic age continues to escalate, with more and more gizmos to make social networking easier and all the more important, it's harder to keep an eye on God and His direction for our lives.
God continues to guide our lives as he did the Israelites. He gives us sustenance and provision. He promises to be with us in the good times and in the bad. He's with us when we sin and when we are doing good for others.
So how is God guiding your life? What means is He using to say, "Hey! Pssst! Over here!" What pillar of cloud or pillar of fire is He guiding you with? It's going to be different for each one of us. But it's important to know how God talks to you - otherwise - how will you ever know when to turn your ear towards Him and really listen?
Prayer request: Pray for guidance and for God to make clear to you how He speaks to you.
Prayer: Lord, reveal Yourself to each of us every day. Make us so familiar with Your quiet and gentle voice, that we never have to ask You, "Is that You God?" Guide each of us, and help us to be obedient to Your calling. Amen
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
'Goliaths' In Our Lives
Scripture: Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:38-40)
When I read this scripture recently, a couple of things came to mind about little David putting on Saul's helmet and armor, then strapping his sword over it all.
David wasn't yet a man, trained to go into battle and wear the proper gear of a soldier. But those over-sized garments represented his future, and all that God saw in him. Little did David know that one day he would grow up to be a warrior king. But the armor, helmet and sword were all yet too big and bulky on him. David still had much growing, learning and training ahead of him.
I believe God sees each of us in much the same way. He sees our potential, and sometimes we get a glimpse of what God wants us to be. If we aren't paying close enough attention, sometimes we miss the clues!
But David sloughed off the military gear and chose simpler, more "fitting" weaponry for a young man of his size and stature; his staff, five stones, a shepherd's bag and a sling. Not at all what a soldier would expect to go into battle with. But David was not a soldier yet, and wouldn't be for years to come. But he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that GOD was on his side. He drew upon his past experiences of GOD protecting him while he was tending his sheep: "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (vs. 37)
The next point that struck me was the extraordinary faith he had in God's ability to protect and shield him from harm! Furthermore, he knew exactly what the outcome between he and Goliath would be. When I read what David said to Goliath after Goliath fiercely insulted him, I really took in what David said. "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saved; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands. (vs. 45-47)
The last thing David declares is that his victory will be a witness to others, claiming no credit and taking no glory for himself, giving it all to God.
I have often heard sermons and read books that tell Christians to resolve their problems the way David treated Goliath. But I agree and disagree with that idea at the same time. In one sense, there is no problem in our lives greater than God that God cannot help us through. I believe that entirely. On the other hand, sometimes such problems cannot be solved with such a simple visual. Sometimes our battles are long and drawn out, and not resolved so quickly. And it is within those personal "battles" that God grows us up, gives us wisdom and teaches us about our own character - and His!
In the final analysis, ALL our battles belong to the Lord. Be they personal, financial, relational, physical or spiritual. It's not about how long it takes to resolve them. It's about our own relationship with the Lord, and how we choose to face the "Goliaths" in our lives. We can stand back and whimper on the other side of the ravine because he's just too big and scary, or we can stand firm, knowing within the very depths of our hearts, and souls, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty ..."
Imagine the witness we are to others when we stand upon that truth and operate in that kind of faith.
We are children of GOD. He is hugely invested in each of our lives. He knows the numbers of hairs on our head, He wove each of us in our mother's wombs. No amount of height or depth, not even life or death can separate us from the love of God. He wants nothing more for each of us than for us to be in relationship with Him, and within that relationship, to trust Him no matter what happens on this earth. Hardships are a necessary part of this world. But He is always there no matter what to carry us through them.
Prayer request: In these tough economic times, pray that all our relationships with the Lord increase. Instead of drawing away from Him, thinking He is distant and negligent, this is the time to draw ever closer to Him and watch Him move!
Prayer: Lord, we come to You humbly but confidently, knowing that You are invested in each of us intimately, and know our joys and struggles. Touch each reader right now, and help them to feel Your gentle presence in their lives. Remove the veils of any lies they may be believing that You are distant, cold and uncaring. Draw each one closer to You right now, and carry them through any hardships they are experiencing. Help us all to rely on You more and more each day. Make Your presence known to any who are not believers, but want to be. Amen
When I read this scripture recently, a couple of things came to mind about little David putting on Saul's helmet and armor, then strapping his sword over it all.
David wasn't yet a man, trained to go into battle and wear the proper gear of a soldier. But those over-sized garments represented his future, and all that God saw in him. Little did David know that one day he would grow up to be a warrior king. But the armor, helmet and sword were all yet too big and bulky on him. David still had much growing, learning and training ahead of him.
I believe God sees each of us in much the same way. He sees our potential, and sometimes we get a glimpse of what God wants us to be. If we aren't paying close enough attention, sometimes we miss the clues!
But David sloughed off the military gear and chose simpler, more "fitting" weaponry for a young man of his size and stature; his staff, five stones, a shepherd's bag and a sling. Not at all what a soldier would expect to go into battle with. But David was not a soldier yet, and wouldn't be for years to come. But he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that GOD was on his side. He drew upon his past experiences of GOD protecting him while he was tending his sheep: "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (vs. 37)
The next point that struck me was the extraordinary faith he had in God's ability to protect and shield him from harm! Furthermore, he knew exactly what the outcome between he and Goliath would be. When I read what David said to Goliath after Goliath fiercely insulted him, I really took in what David said. "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saved; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands. (vs. 45-47)
The last thing David declares is that his victory will be a witness to others, claiming no credit and taking no glory for himself, giving it all to God.
I have often heard sermons and read books that tell Christians to resolve their problems the way David treated Goliath. But I agree and disagree with that idea at the same time. In one sense, there is no problem in our lives greater than God that God cannot help us through. I believe that entirely. On the other hand, sometimes such problems cannot be solved with such a simple visual. Sometimes our battles are long and drawn out, and not resolved so quickly. And it is within those personal "battles" that God grows us up, gives us wisdom and teaches us about our own character - and His!
In the final analysis, ALL our battles belong to the Lord. Be they personal, financial, relational, physical or spiritual. It's not about how long it takes to resolve them. It's about our own relationship with the Lord, and how we choose to face the "Goliaths" in our lives. We can stand back and whimper on the other side of the ravine because he's just too big and scary, or we can stand firm, knowing within the very depths of our hearts, and souls, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty ..."
Imagine the witness we are to others when we stand upon that truth and operate in that kind of faith.
We are children of GOD. He is hugely invested in each of our lives. He knows the numbers of hairs on our head, He wove each of us in our mother's wombs. No amount of height or depth, not even life or death can separate us from the love of God. He wants nothing more for each of us than for us to be in relationship with Him, and within that relationship, to trust Him no matter what happens on this earth. Hardships are a necessary part of this world. But He is always there no matter what to carry us through them.
Prayer request: In these tough economic times, pray that all our relationships with the Lord increase. Instead of drawing away from Him, thinking He is distant and negligent, this is the time to draw ever closer to Him and watch Him move!
Prayer: Lord, we come to You humbly but confidently, knowing that You are invested in each of us intimately, and know our joys and struggles. Touch each reader right now, and help them to feel Your gentle presence in their lives. Remove the veils of any lies they may be believing that You are distant, cold and uncaring. Draw each one closer to You right now, and carry them through any hardships they are experiencing. Help us all to rely on You more and more each day. Make Your presence known to any who are not believers, but want to be. Amen
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