July 9: Be Quick to Listen

 Theme: Practicing as patience and understanding

Bouvia Ferguson
Creek SDA Church

1 Samuel 3:9 – "Therefore, Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So, Samuel went and lay down in his place."

God directed me to a place where I could have time with Him.

First Samuel Chapter 3 opens with a sad state of spiritual affairs in Israel: "…and the voice of God was rare in those days." God depended on Eli, the priest, and his sons to uphold the sacredness of the priesthood. While Eli warned his sons against defiling God's service, he failed to stop them from continuing to dishonor it.

Take your Bible, read the story of 1 Samuel 3, and reflect on verse 19. Three things stand out:

1. The Master: Who or what is calling your attention? Is it the Lord or something else? We must learn to differentiate God's voice from the distracting voices that seek our attention.

2. The Message: What promptings are you receiving? Are they worth obeying? Can you earnestly say, "Speak, Lord"? Pay attention to what God is prompting your heart to do.

3. The Messenger: Are you reliable to receive God’s message? Can you confidently say, "Thy servant heareth"? Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

God speaks to us in several ways: through His Word, through difficulties, through the Holy Spirit, through creation, through prayer and fasting, and through other people.

Are we open to the many ways in which He speaks to us? God is speaking—are you listening?

In early 2011, after spending most of my life in a big city, I decided to move to a quieter neighborhood in another state following an attempted carjacking. I was confident that finding full-time employment would not be an issue in the new location.

After settling in, I took some time to rest while searching for employment. However, God wanted to teach me patience and reliance on Him. I recall days of staring out the window, watching cars pass by, thinking, They must be going to work. At that moment, I promised the Lord that whenever I found a job, I would never complain.

Since I was unsuccessful in finding full-time employment, I had to work three part-time jobs to meet my expenses. One of these jobs was at a local college, where I made several connections and applied for various full-time positions—without success. I leaned on God's promises, such as those in Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

In 2015, God spoke to me through a director at the college who said, "Sometimes we have to go outside of our comfort zone." The prayer of Jabez came to mind:

1 Chronicles 4:10 – "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border. May Your hand be with me and keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain."

Relying on God for blessings, guidance, and protection, I Googled the safest places to live in the Caribbean, as I also wished to escape the cold weather I had endured for so many years. At that time, the Cayman Islands ranked in the top five.

Holding onto Philippians 4:6-7, I began my search for a full-time job in the Cayman Islands:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Apparently, my patience needed further development, as it was six months before I received a call for an interview. By God's grace, I was chosen for the position. Though the transition was not easy, I could clearly see His hand at work. During difficult times, I would recall my promise to my gracious God—to be thankful and not complain.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Matthew 7:7 – "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Psalm 27:14 – "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

Romans 8:28 – "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Prayer

Lord, as we stand at the crossroads of life, we humbly come before You, yearning for divine guidance. Grant us patience to wait on Your perfect timing. In moments of uncertainty, help us trust Your plans, knowing that Your wisdom surpasses our understanding.

Teach us to hear Your voice amidst the noise of life. Grant us open ears to discern Your whispers, for in Your guidance, we find peace. May Your wisdom flow through us, leading us to walk faithfully in the path You have set before us.

We surrender our impatience and embrace Your divine timing, for in You, we find strength. Thank You for being our guiding light. Lead us through the darkest nights, we pray. Amen.