Did you hear that?

1 Samuel 3


1 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested. Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.”
Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.
God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)
God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”
That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.
Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”

Last week I was awaken earlier than normal. I like to think I am beating the system by setting my alarm clock 15 minutes fast. This allows me to snooze two extra times, who doesn't wanna snooze two extra times a day.
I had gotten up and was dressed, not to be the only one up early I started to wake my family and then the phone rang.
Mom called saying Dad had fallen, "please hurry to the house". I told Missy I knew why I had been awakened early that day. Slipping on my shoes and I jumped into the car, flashers engaged and hit the road. Arriving I found "Pop" with a cut on his arm and shaken from the fall.
He was going to be OK. I bandaged his wound and stayed a while.
 
What If I had giving in to my snooze? I wouldn't have been ready for the call.
 
Samuel was being awaken by the voice of God. He went to Eli each time then Eli got it. THe voice must be God's. Eli's instructions are important for us today. Many times we spend time in prayer just praying away. Then we go away never stopping to say, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”


Are you Listening, really Listening for God's voice when you pray.
Pause now and listen.....