Listen Up

In this week's Bring the Rain series at church, Pastor Lynn asked the question "Are you listening?"  He showed how the rain comes through answered prayers.  That's how God gets the rain to us, but we have to be paying attention and recognize His voice.

Pastor Lynn used the story of Samuel to illustrate this.  As a young boy living in the temple, Samuel heard someone calling him.  Thinking it was Eli the priest, Samuel got up and went to Eli.  Each time, Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed."  After the third time, Eli realized it was the Lord speaking to the boy.  He told Samuel if he hears someone calling him again, he should say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."

That should be our response, too.  When we pray, we should say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."  That should be our prayer every day. Then, we should wait for God to speak.  God wants to speak to us every day.  The question is: "Are you listening?"

God speaks to us in many ways.  It can be through reading our Bible, through the words of songs or sermons or through other people.  Sometimes, it comes through dreams and visions or through that still, small voice on the inside of you.

The bottom line is this: God wants to speak to each one of us.  He wants to bring rain into our lives.  He wants to fulfill the promises, which is the rain.  We have to be in tune to His voice by listening  If we really want the rain of God. then we must ask ourselves, "Are you listening?"