I’m so sorry: I posted today’s blog early this morning, and didn’t realise I hadn’t given it a title. This will mainly affect direct email subscribers, so here is a corrected version especially for you xxx
Context: Yesterday I woke up very late. Whilst I lay still, praying without words and longing to see into my soul again, this prayer arrived:
Here I am. Did you call me? (1 Samuel 3:5; NLT).
Here I am, Lord. Did you call me?
Speak: I long to hear your voice.
You are all in all to me, Lord,
Speak, for I have made my choice –
You’re my faith, my hope, my Saviour,
You’re my God, my great High Priest;
You’re my bread, my living water,
You’re my wine, my inner peace;
You’re my fire, my strength, my spirit,
You’re the light within my soul;
You’re my way, my truth, my life,
And you’re the One who makes me whole.
Jesus, though I’m weak and sinful,
You will come to set me free –
Speak; your servant, Lord, is listening,
And you’re everything to me.
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:9; NIV).
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).
Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; NIV.
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”