Jfirst Cause Weekly Devotional
May 31, 2007
Look who’s talking
Listening – I will admit I’m not a good listener. I like to talk and give advice to others. I believe this is a gift that God has given me and trust me, I use it any chance I get. I’m a work in progress when it comes to the listening.
I know that I am a mouth and a big one at that. I admire people who are good listeners because they really see people at eye level. Meaning they are able to listen so well that people open up to them and when they do speak into someone’s life, they are talking to them instead of at them or down to them.
People who are good listeners seem to hear God a little more clearly as well. They are in the habit of listening first so when God speaks they pick it up better. Not to say that if you’re not a good listener, you can’t hear God clearly therefore you are walking through life aimlessly. Us talkers just have to work a little harder when it come to hearing what is being said by people or by God.
When it comes to praying, we tend to think if words aren’t being said then we really aren’t praying and that is the wrong attitude to have. Prayer is not meant to be a one way conversation where we tell God all the things we want him to do for us.
Prayer is a two way conversation. Just as we talk to God, we let God talk to us. As a matter of fact as my old pastor Miles McPherson from the Rock Church down in San Diego use to say, “When you pray remember to listen to God because what God has to say to you is more important than what you have to say to God.” This is not to say that what you have to say to God is not important.
I remember the first time I heard God’s voice. I was sitting at a table reading the Bible and I was reading about how Moses talked to God face to face. God called Moses by name because he was God’s Friend. You can read the story in Exodus 33: 7-17.
As I was reading, I heard God say Joey and it seemed to be an audible voice and I looked around and thought one of my friends were calling my name. Nobody was around that I could see. I then heard God say as clear as day, “I’m not just your Father, I’m your friend and friends call each other by name.”
That moment was one of the most power experiences I have ever had in my entire life. I realized that praying was not just about me talking to God but God talking to me as well.
In the book of first Samuel there is a beautiful story about the prophet Samuel learning to hear God’s voice. The story is in 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (TNIV).
1 Samuel 3 (Today's New International Version)
The LORD Calls Samuel
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 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.
6 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."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 A third time the LORD called, "Samuel!" 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. 9 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.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
As I read this passage, I noticed in verse 1 that the Word of the Lord was rare. In fact during this period in the History of Israel there was not many times that the people were hearing from God. My question is why? Did God just not want to speak to the Children of Israel? Or maybe they just weren’t listening to God. If you’re listening I believe you will hear from God.
The people of God during this time were not seeking God how they should and this probably limited them hearing from Him. In our time it’s no different. God is speaking to us all the time it’s just a matter of preparing ourselves to listen so we can hear from God.
When’s the last time you heard from God? If you haven’t in a while begin to prepare yourself to be in a place to hear from Him. He truly wants to speak to you.
Practical steps to hearing God’s voice
First, expect to hear from Him. I don’t know what your belief is on hearing the voice of God but He does have a voice and when you expect to hear Him then I believe you will hear him more clearly and regularly.
Second, write down what you hear God saying to you. I use to try and remember what God was speaking to me and I would forget then I had an epiphany and thought to myself, why not by a notebook and write down what I feel God is speaking to me. Remember what God has to say to you is more important then what you have to say to God.
Third, go to a quiet place. In verses 2 and 3, Eli and Samuel where in a quiet place where hearing the voice of God would be heard better. They were both lying down in a quiet place. The idea of being in a quiet place will help you to hear God when He is speaking to you. Less distractions equals more focus and results in the most beautiful voice ever being heard, God’s voice.
Fourth, listen to people who know God’s voice. In verses 4 thru 10, Samuel thinks that Eli is calling him and three times he goes to Eli and says you called. Eli realizes that God was speaking to Samuel so when God called out to Samuel the fourth time, Eli told him what to do. How did Eli know it was God speaking and not bad pizza? Eli was the prophet and Samuel was his apprentice so naturally, Eli heard God speak to him a few times in his life. Eli was able to help Samuel know when God was speaking to him and how to approach God so he could prepare himself to hear God. In verse 9, Eli tells Samuel, “go lie down and if the Lord calls again say ‘speak Lord for your servant is listening.’” I remember learning from my Friend Anthony how to hear God’s voice. When I was young in the Lord I use to attend an all night prayer meeting at Lakeview Assembly of God. During one of the prayer meetings I met Anthony and he would pray passionately. I looked up to Anthony and knew that he knew a few things about prayer. I remember praying with him and he told me to start to be quiet when I pray and listen for the voice of God. I listened to my wise friend and to my surprise I started to hear God speak to me. During this time I heard God speak to me for the first time as I mentioned in the beginning.
The Challenge – This week as you are praying ask God to speak to you and I won’t be surprised when you start hearing from Him more regularly. Lots of times you are just a few words away from hearing Him just as Samuel was and he learned these powerful words, Speak Lord for your servant is listening.
Be Blessed,
Joey
Look who’s talking
Listening – I will admit I’m not a good listener. I like to talk and give advice to others. I believe this is a gift that God has given me and trust me, I use it any chance I get. I’m a work in progress when it comes to the listening.
I know that I am a mouth and a big one at that. I admire people who are good listeners because they really see people at eye level. Meaning they are able to listen so well that people open up to them and when they do speak into someone’s life, they are talking to them instead of at them or down to them.
People who are good listeners seem to hear God a little more clearly as well. They are in the habit of listening first so when God speaks they pick it up better. Not to say that if you’re not a good listener, you can’t hear God clearly therefore you are walking through life aimlessly. Us talkers just have to work a little harder when it come to hearing what is being said by people or by God.
When it comes to praying, we tend to think if words aren’t being said then we really aren’t praying and that is the wrong attitude to have. Prayer is not meant to be a one way conversation where we tell God all the things we want him to do for us.
Prayer is a two way conversation. Just as we talk to God, we let God talk to us. As a matter of fact as my old pastor Miles McPherson from the Rock Church down in San Diego use to say, “When you pray remember to listen to God because what God has to say to you is more important than what you have to say to God.” This is not to say that what you have to say to God is not important.
I remember the first time I heard God’s voice. I was sitting at a table reading the Bible and I was reading about how Moses talked to God face to face. God called Moses by name because he was God’s Friend. You can read the story in Exodus 33: 7-17.
As I was reading, I heard God say Joey and it seemed to be an audible voice and I looked around and thought one of my friends were calling my name. Nobody was around that I could see. I then heard God say as clear as day, “I’m not just your Father, I’m your friend and friends call each other by name.”
That moment was one of the most power experiences I have ever had in my entire life. I realized that praying was not just about me talking to God but God talking to me as well.
In the book of first Samuel there is a beautiful story about the prophet Samuel learning to hear God’s voice. The story is in 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (TNIV).
1 Samuel 3 (Today's New International Version)
The LORD Calls Samuel
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 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.
6 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."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 A third time the LORD called, "Samuel!" 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. 9 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.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
As I read this passage, I noticed in verse 1 that the Word of the Lord was rare. In fact during this period in the History of Israel there was not many times that the people were hearing from God. My question is why? Did God just not want to speak to the Children of Israel? Or maybe they just weren’t listening to God. If you’re listening I believe you will hear from God.
The people of God during this time were not seeking God how they should and this probably limited them hearing from Him. In our time it’s no different. God is speaking to us all the time it’s just a matter of preparing ourselves to listen so we can hear from God.
When’s the last time you heard from God? If you haven’t in a while begin to prepare yourself to be in a place to hear from Him. He truly wants to speak to you.
Practical steps to hearing God’s voice
First, expect to hear from Him. I don’t know what your belief is on hearing the voice of God but He does have a voice and when you expect to hear Him then I believe you will hear him more clearly and regularly.
Second, write down what you hear God saying to you. I use to try and remember what God was speaking to me and I would forget then I had an epiphany and thought to myself, why not by a notebook and write down what I feel God is speaking to me. Remember what God has to say to you is more important then what you have to say to God.
Third, go to a quiet place. In verses 2 and 3, Eli and Samuel where in a quiet place where hearing the voice of God would be heard better. They were both lying down in a quiet place. The idea of being in a quiet place will help you to hear God when He is speaking to you. Less distractions equals more focus and results in the most beautiful voice ever being heard, God’s voice.
Fourth, listen to people who know God’s voice. In verses 4 thru 10, Samuel thinks that Eli is calling him and three times he goes to Eli and says you called. Eli realizes that God was speaking to Samuel so when God called out to Samuel the fourth time, Eli told him what to do. How did Eli know it was God speaking and not bad pizza? Eli was the prophet and Samuel was his apprentice so naturally, Eli heard God speak to him a few times in his life. Eli was able to help Samuel know when God was speaking to him and how to approach God so he could prepare himself to hear God. In verse 9, Eli tells Samuel, “go lie down and if the Lord calls again say ‘speak Lord for your servant is listening.’” I remember learning from my Friend Anthony how to hear God’s voice. When I was young in the Lord I use to attend an all night prayer meeting at Lakeview Assembly of God. During one of the prayer meetings I met Anthony and he would pray passionately. I looked up to Anthony and knew that he knew a few things about prayer. I remember praying with him and he told me to start to be quiet when I pray and listen for the voice of God. I listened to my wise friend and to my surprise I started to hear God speak to me. During this time I heard God speak to me for the first time as I mentioned in the beginning.
The Challenge – This week as you are praying ask God to speak to you and I won’t be surprised when you start hearing from Him more regularly. Lots of times you are just a few words away from hearing Him just as Samuel was and he learned these powerful words, Speak Lord for your servant is listening.
Be Blessed,
Joey
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