There's an intriguing story in 1 Samuel, chapter 3. It's about a boy named Samuel and a calling he received.
1Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lordwere very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
2One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 4Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
6Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”
7Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8So 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. 9So 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.
10And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
Those last five words are powerful. Speak, your servant is listening. This is the posture you want if you want to hear from God. "I'm hanging onto Your every word God because I don't want to miss a thing. You can speak because I am listening."
This is also the posture you want when you're talking with other people. When you ask someone about their story, the posture of your heart should then be, "Speak, your servant is listening." Pay attention. Fully engage. Ask questions. You can't do any of those things if you don't listen first.
In case no one has told you today, you are loved and appreciated. And now you know.
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