Is Anybody Listening? – 1 Samuel 15:22

22Then Samuel said, Do you think all God wants are sacrifices - empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.

– 1 Samuel 15:22

Is Anybody Listening?

Have you heard from God lately?  Do you even know if you have or not?  If you haven't, or if you don't know if you have, there is something seriously wrong with your Christian walk.  

Wow . . . harsh words dude!

I know it is harsh to hear that we are doing something wrong – especially when it comes to our very personal walk with our Lord and Savior, but hear me out.  God is constantly working, and He uses His children (us) to carry out His purpose and His Will on this ever-spinning rock in space.  If we aren't hearing what He wants us to do, then it must be because we aren't listening, and if we aren't taking the time to listen to our Maker . . . then there is a BIG problem.

"But I'm working in this ministry and I'm volunteering at this outreach AND at that other church thing and I'm constantly doing work for God."  I hear you, and all that's good, but in all your doing, and your serving, and your tract-distributing, are you taking the time to stop, to sit, to soak in the presence of God and "serve" Him by giving Him your full attention?  How many times just this week have you sat in silence before the Lord to let Him reveal Himself to you?  THAT is His true desire.  THAT is what He wants from you more than anything else.  THAT is how you will learn to hear from Him and to learn about the life He designed for you to live.

Being about the Lord's work is great – don't get me wrong, but if it's not the work He wants you to be doing, then your efforts and all your time, though well-intentioned, aren't as fruitful as you think.  Wouldn't it be better to be serving in exactly the way God wants, according to His plan and purpose?  The resulting fruit would not only change the world, but you would see changes in your life that you never thought could be possible.  God would honor you because you have been honoring Him . . . with your listening.

SO . . . take some time today.  Get quiet before the Lord.  Clear your mind of all the clutter of your busy life and let God talk to you.  Allow Him the pleasure of delighting in you and in revealing Himself to His most prized possession . . . you!

Prayer

Father, Thank You for wanting to have a relationship with us.  Thank You for always taking the time and for wanting to use us in Your plans to save this dying world.  Forgive our closed ears and our busy work, neither is pleasing to You nor do they honor You.  Help us to learn to listen, to hear from You, to get to know You and to know Your voice.  Tell us Lord, as we quiet ourselves in Your presence, and we will open our ears, and listen.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard