Hearing God
1 Samuel 3:4-5
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
What do you suppose that was like? Do you think Samuel heard Him with his ears, or was it a voice in his head? Do you think His voice sounded to Samuel like Eli's voice? Do you think God sounded like Samuel?
Sometimes, I hear thoughts in my head and I think that perhaps they are not my own. Some of the voices that speak inside me sound very much like my own thoughts, but some are pretty clearly not my own.
I can reconize the voices of evil much more easily than I can the voice of God. When a tempting thought rushes at me at just the wrong moment, I can recognize that as an attack. When I have a thought flitter through my mind, but it is a thought I would not want and would not normally think, I often find myself thinking, "Where did that come from?" And then I think, "Get behind me Satan - the Lord rebuke you!"
But recognizing the voice of God is harder for me. For some reason, I fear being too sure of myself about God's voice - presuming that I hear Him when it is only my own ego I'm listening to. I don't want to be delusional.
But nor do I be hard hearted and miss the call of God.
Eventually, the old man recognized what was happening with the young boy, and told him to ask God what He wanted to tell him. Perhaps we all need an Eli to help us recognize what we are hearing. Monte Cox has helped me listen for God alot. So has Evertt Huffard. Ray Pendleton and Gordon MacDonald too. I pray often that God will send me more Eli's to help me hear Him more easily and clearly.
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
What do you suppose that was like? Do you think Samuel heard Him with his ears, or was it a voice in his head? Do you think His voice sounded to Samuel like Eli's voice? Do you think God sounded like Samuel?
Sometimes, I hear thoughts in my head and I think that perhaps they are not my own. Some of the voices that speak inside me sound very much like my own thoughts, but some are pretty clearly not my own.
I can reconize the voices of evil much more easily than I can the voice of God. When a tempting thought rushes at me at just the wrong moment, I can recognize that as an attack. When I have a thought flitter through my mind, but it is a thought I would not want and would not normally think, I often find myself thinking, "Where did that come from?" And then I think, "Get behind me Satan - the Lord rebuke you!"
But recognizing the voice of God is harder for me. For some reason, I fear being too sure of myself about God's voice - presuming that I hear Him when it is only my own ego I'm listening to. I don't want to be delusional.
But nor do I be hard hearted and miss the call of God.
Eventually, the old man recognized what was happening with the young boy, and told him to ask God what He wanted to tell him. Perhaps we all need an Eli to help us recognize what we are hearing. Monte Cox has helped me listen for God alot. So has Evertt Huffard. Ray Pendleton and Gordon MacDonald too. I pray often that God will send me more Eli's to help me hear Him more easily and clearly.
posted by Ethan Brown | 6:59 PM
1 Comments:
Tim, there is no higher comment. Calling me a good husband and father is probably the closest. Thanks.
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