Speak, for Your Servant is Listening!

Dear Servant of God ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on God who is always present with us.  As you breathe, let all of your distractions come and go ... if your distractions are overwhelming you, stop and acknowledge them, commit to attending to them after you finish your time with God and turn your attention back to your breathing!

As you breathe deeply, say a "breath prayer"
     Inhale:   Speak Lord  ...
     Pause ...

     Exhale:  Your servant listens  ...
     Pause ...
Repeat your breath prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into the sacred reading of the biblical text, and then ...
     

     Pray:   I desire to hear your word deep in my heart

Read the passage slowly, immersing yourself in the story of Samuel the boy and Eli his mentor.  This would be a wonderful passage to close your eyes and listen to ... Take this Link to BibleGateway's Audio Bible, choose your version (New American Standard=NAS) and your reader, then insert the passage reference and play audio and listen to: 

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NAS)  Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.  It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), and 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, that the LORD called Samuel ; and he said, "Here I am." Then he 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. The LORD called yet again, "Samuel !" So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered, "I did not call, my son, lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel ! Samuel !" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."

Read (or listen to) the passage again slowly and Reflect on the journey through which Samuel moves from unknowing (God) to knowing (God).  What word or phrase shimmers up off of the page to grab your attention?   Repeat that word or phrase.  Ponder this Word or phrase you've been given.  Let God's presence call you as Samuel was called ... This kind of calling can come in so many different ways.  How do you recognize God's voice?   Sit for awhile with what God is bringing to your mind as you ponder your word or phrase.

Read (or listen to) the passage again slowly and Respond.   Share with God how you feel about what you are hearing through your word or phrase.  Speak your word or phrase out loud and ask God to fill you with confidence and courage as you explore its meaning for you in the life you are living.   How much of yourself can you offer to God right now?   Take a moment to journal your commitment to God.

Read (or listen to) the passage again and Rest.  Allow the presence of God to surround you and lift you up and lead you deeper into your calling for this day.  Rest until the peace of God settles into your soul ...

When you sense the time to move on, Pray: God of Samuel and Eli, speak to me for surely I am listening for your voice.  I want to know you as Eli knew you for so many years and as Samuel came to know you in this dreamy encounter.  Amen.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ... ministering to the Lord ... this phrase intrigues me for I don't really think about ministering "to" the Lord.   Ministering simply means "attending to the needs of" in a nurturing way.  Does that mean that God has needs or that God desires to be nurtured?   How does one can nurture God?   The Hebrew word, sharath {shaw-rath'} means serve, assist, attend to, care for.   Sometimes, this means just showing up.  And so in this new year, I am feeling called to "show up" in a more faithful way!