I Samuel 3:10 ” The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’ “

If you have ever been part of a marriage conference or counseling…they teach you the art of active listening.  Each has the others undivided attention as they converse back and forth…repeating back to the person what they heard and asking, “Is this what you meant?”  There is much more listening done than speaking, and more unselfish attention given than self-centeredness.  Listening to the Lord is a lot like that.  It is not  blabbering on incessantly about our own feelings and emotions…it’s listening with all our being…taking the time to be quiet…hearing and then heeding His voice.

Psalm 18:1 ” I love You, O Lord, my strength.”

I praise You Lord.  For when I am weak, You are my source of power.  When I am frail in mind and spirit, You support me and give me endurance.  When I feel feeble and ready to give up, You reinforce my backbone and give me toughness  to move ahead.  In Exodus 15:2 it says, “The Lord is my strength and my song.  He has become my salvation.”  I will make music in my heart, for You have given me victory on all sides.  Amen.

Revelation 3:19 ” Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”

You love your children don’t you?  You want only the best for them,  and for them  to avoid as many pitfalls and sadness you had to learn the hard way growing up.  So why should it be any different with our Heavenly Father?  Proverbs 3:12 says, ” The Lord disciplines those He loves.”  You are a cherished child of God when  He admonishes you over something not right in your life.  For He also wants only the best for you.  When God shows you something out of kilter…get serious… don’t ignore or get angry at God…admit  you need a moral re-orientation of your mind and heart, and repent.

 

Lamentations 3: 55-57 ” I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close Your ears to my cry for relief.’ You came near when I called You, and You said, ‘Do not fear.’ “

The Hebrews conceived of death as a giant pit.  And when we’re in the darkest deeps of that pit mentality and emotionally…when depression and disappointment have taken over our lives, we have only one thing we can do.  Out of the very depths of that hole  we must cry out to the Lord… for  He will hear us, listen to our pleas, and bring peace as only He can.