I want to learn how to listen to God.

I'll be honest: listening to God is very difficult for me.  Whenever someone talks about "listening to God" or "hearing from Him," I think about my life and what God's voice might sound like. 

In 1 Samuel 3, the Lord calls the young Samuel.  Initially, because Samuel knows about God but doesn't actually know God, he mistakes the Lord's voice for that of Eli.  After some confusion, Eli finally realizes that it is the Lord who is calling out for Samuel, and Eli tells Samuel to respond by saying "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears."

Here's what I'm learning from this passage.

First, listening to God requires you to be intimate with Him.  The few times when I have been absolutely sure that God has spoken to me have been the times when I was most in tune with His Spirit.  Samuel thought it was Eli calling out to him because he had yet to have a personal encounter with God.

Second, listening to God requires a response.  When Eli realizes that it is God calling for Samuel, he tells him to respond by saying "Speak, Lord."  I'm not sure that you can clearly hear God's voice if you're not actively thinking about responding to it.

Third, listening to God requires obedience.  The words Samuel uses in his response to God's call are telling: "your servant hears."  Listening and responding aren't quite enough when God calls - His voice doesn't produce fruit in our lives until we act on it.  We are servants - so let us be obedient.

I press on toward the goal.

Hey all!

Welcome to my blog.  I promise to make an effort to update it fairly regularly.  The Huron Hills College Ministry mission trip to Tijuana is coming up soon, and I am ramping up my physical training regimen to better cope with whatever work we will do in our short time there.  I am also excited about a book on Biblical masculinity I am going through with Tony - I am tired of living the way I have been and I feel like this book may significantly affect me (for the better) as old wounds heal.  

God is so gracious.  Take some time to ponder this.  The thought almost brings tears to my tired eyes.

I leave you all with a thought.  It's probably safe to say that we're familiar with the verse in Philippians 3 where Paul says "I press on toward the goal..." - I feel like in recent times I've become so familiar with the verse that I've forgotten to really study it.  Right before that quote, Paul says "but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..."  For some reason, the "straining" part is really hitting me tonight.  The image forming in my mind is one of Paul pulling on his chains with all his might, straining against the weight that holds him back.  Probably more metaphor than reality, but I wonder now the possibility that at one point Paul did this very thing before settling down to write his letters.  The point to take home: even Paul found it difficult to keep moving forward.