Do You Hear What I Hear?

"Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”" 1 Samuel 3:7-10 (NLT)

Whatever people may say, be assured that God's still speaking to people. He loves the people that He's created and wants to be involved in their lives - to make both them and their lives better and to share a relationship with them. But what does God sound like when He speaks? Would we hear Him if He spoke to us? Would we recognize Him if He came near?

God spoke much to Elijah...

"“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper."  1 Kings 19:11-13

I would venture to guess that many of us are surrounded by too much noise and confusion, busy with the work of life, to hear a faint whisper. But what if God was saying something to us personally - something important? What if He whispered gently something of critical importance to our lives? Would we miss it? Would we recognize it was Him or just dismiss it as a errant thought? 

Recent studies suggest that we have between 6000 and 70,000 thoughts in a day. What if one of those "thoughts" was actually something that God was attempting to bring to our attention? Would we catch it? Of all of the things that could capture our attention in a day - on any day, there's none of them more important than anything God might say or point out. And there's no reason to think it odd that God might relate to you directly. Remember the value that He places on you. The suffering and death of His only Son wasn't too high of a price to pay for just the chance that He might be allowed to save you.

 As the best Father that ever was, calling out to the child He holds so precious, He's talking to you - sometimes through scripture, sometimes in our thoughts, and sometimes in a faint whisper...

...Do you hear what I hear?

Be listening.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)