I Am Listening

This week I have been hearing in the Spirit that there is a major disconnect between the believer and God. It seems we are so busy trying to live purposeful and meaningful lives that we are missing the call and instructions as to how to live this fulfilled life many of us seek. Yesterday, on Intercession Tuesday we prayed to "Hear The Voice of God". Today, on this Worship Wednesday, we will discover that "worship" is an effective tool to listen and tune into the voice of our loving Father.

1 Samuel 3 gives us an account of how the Lord calls Samuel several times and he was confused and thought it was the High Priest Eli calling him, but it was the Lord. It reads as follows,

 "The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The      lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.  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."

Notice the bible says, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening…not Listen Lord for your servant is speaking.” Is it possible to be always in the temple, spending our lives in the church…and yet miss listening to the voice of God. Is it possible that God is trying to speak to us and we’re just not sure if it is Him as Samuel? Listening to the voice of God is the most active, most participatory part of any believer. Listening doesn’t always mean quietness, but is always requires being attentive. And our senses during worship are more drawn to spiritual things. In the midst of a powerful song, God may speak to you about something in your life. In the midst of a worship, your mind may be drawn to something the Spirit is trying to speak to you. Go with in and be like Samuel and tell Him you're listening. Listening is not about  the song, but an encounter with God and tuning in to the Spirit. 

I would say that worship involves us listening to God and then responding back to God. Its like making music. Today, in your worship ask God to speak to you and be an active participant in the conversation. Whatever He says to you, make the declaration "I will  Listen".

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"It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men." -- C.S. Lewis