Speak Lord, your servant is listening

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3: 4- 10

“Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." 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. 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."

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

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 at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"

Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Reaction: Today the phrase ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening’ kept running through my mind. It’s the name of a book I used when I first started praying with scriptures in 2008. So I decided to read the whole passage from Samuel, where this phrase originated.

My impression during my meditation was that I could not expect the type of overt directives that Samuel received throughout in his relationship with God. But that doesn’t mean that the Lord is not speaking to me. As a spiritual director once told me, God gives us a lot of nudges, and it’s up to us to be open to them. As I continue to heighten my sensitivity to these nudges, I can discern where it is the Lord is leading me. I feel very strongly that there are some recurring themes in these proddings, leading me away from materialism, away from pride, towards love for all and putting others before myself. Most of all, I am being guided to deepen my personal relationship with God by praying with His holy word and contemplating what it means to me. And lately, though I’ve rarely felt comfortable ‘witnessing’ to others, I’ve had some very fulfilling responses as I’ve shared my prayer experiences. I feel that the path of the witness is another place the Lord is leading me.

Today’s meditation told me to continue on my course of prayer, but to be prepared for a few detours along the way. I won’t necessarily find a neon sign pointing out the new direction, but perhaps just warm breeze, an inviting aroma or an encouraging word from a friend might be the hand of God nudging me on my way.