"God is Talking to Me?"
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
1 Samuel served the by helping Eli the priest, who was by that time almost blind. In those days, the hardly ever spoke directly to people, and he did not appear to them in dreams very often. But one night, Eli was asleep in his room, 2 3 and Samuel was sleeping on a mat near the sacred chest in the 's house. They had not been asleep very long 4 when the called out Samuel's name. “Here I am!” Samuel answered. 5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. What do you want?” “I didn't call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to bed.” Samuel went back. 6 Again the called out Samuel's name. Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “What do you want?” Eli told him, “Son, I didn't call you. Go back to sleep.” 7 The had not spoken to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice. 8 When the called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, “Here I am. What do you want?” Eli finally realized that it was the who was speaking to Samuel. 9 So he said, “Go back and lie down! If someone speaks to you again, answer, ‘I'm listening, . What do you want me to do?’ ” Once again Samuel went back and lay down. 10 The then stood beside Samuel and called out as he had done before, “Samuel! Samuel!” “I'm listening,” Samuel answered. “What do you want me to do?”
I Samuel 3:1-10
Memory Verse
I Samuel 3:10
10 The then stood beside Samuel and called out as he had done before, “Samuel! Samuel!” “I'm listening,” Samuel answered. “What do you want me to do?”
Sebastian was excited to visit his friend’s church with his family. The songs were not too familiar to him, but he enjoyed some of the instruments he heard. The offering plates went by, and Sebastian got excited because that meant the children's message was next, and then he could go to the children's church. But then the plates passed by, and the pastor got up and began the sermon. Did the pastor forget? Sebastian sat there, confused about what was happening.
Perhaps you haven’t understood how things happen during a church service either. Maybe it was something you’d never seen before, or maybe going to church is new for you. It’s okay to have questions. The good news is that God’s happy when we all come together and worship him, whether we’ve been to that church a hundred times or are new for the first time.
While we might not hear from God just like Samuel did in the temple, picture a worship service as a conversation between God and his people:
God starts the worship service and says, "I'm glad to see you! It's been a long week. Come in and let’s talk."
The worshipers say, "Thank you for being with me through the week. You encourage me every day. I'm so thankful that you are so big and strong! I love you. Sorry for the times I hurt you."
When we read Scripture together, God says, "I forgive you. I have written down some things I want to tell you."
The worshipers say, "Thanks! Hearing from you helps me understand what is happening."
When worshipers eat the bread and drink from the cup, God says, "Here is some food for your journey."
Worshipers respond by saying, "Thanks! You have given me so much already. What can I do in return?"
God sends us out to the world, saying, "Use my gifts. Go with my blessing!"
Worshipers praise God, saying, "Thanks! You're awesome."
The next time you sit in church, ask yourself, “Who is talking right now—God or me?” Tell God what you need, and listen to what he says to you.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for talking to me. Thank you for those who help me hear your voice. Amen.Related Resources
Philip Vander Windt
Philip VanderWindt is the pastor at Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church. In his free time he enjoys building “tall-tall towers” with his kids, analyzing worldviews of films and music with his wife, photographing the beauty of God’s creation, dabbling in leathercraft and woodwork, and writing.