Speak To Our Hearts, Lord!

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.” And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” I Samuel 3:9-14 NIV

The more carnage we see in the world, the more I wonder--are we listening to God? Or more importantly, is He speaking to us?

Though Eli was instrumental in training Samuel to serve The Lord, his sons acted in completely diabolical ways--even to disrespecting the temple by having sex with prostitutes there. Eli knew what they were doing and yet did not stop them and therefore, God warned him what would happen. His sons were killed and when Eli got the news--he also died.

I sense the death of a nation--spiritually--and though we have been warned, time and time again about not just the behavior of others, but our own, we are yet ignoring God. And when there is a spiritual death--eventually--physical death follows. Perhaps, this is the reason we see what we see across the globe, and especially in America.

Some might say, God is not speaking to "the prophets" any more and they would be on the right track. There are yet some prophets--called by God--to whom He is speaking, but more importantly, we have His Word and His Spirit to guide us in all things. Some of the "prophets" that are speaking into the lives of people are actually entertaining others "in the name of The Lord" and they are responsible for the consequences that will befall them.

What we have to understand about "righteous living" is that God holds each and every person who "claims to know Him" accountable for their own actions. We are not responsible for the actions of others--we are responsible for what God has spoken to our hearts and our obedience to His Word--individually! If every individual--born again Believer--lives The Word--not just in private or in the confines of a building--we have the power to influence others and we should. If after we share the love of God with them and encourage them to serve Him, they choose to go their own way, they are responsible for the consequences that fall upon them--not us.

I cannot speak for others, but I do believe that the time for God to speak to us and we hear and obey, is now--while we have a chance to win others to Christ--not political parties--so that we may know peace and all will receive and share His love. So, that is my prayer--for all Believers--that God will speak to our hearts--and we will hear and obey.

Lord, speak to our hearts, ignite our desire to obey and serve You like never before. Guide us in all that we do, allowing Holy Spirit to keep us on the right path--continuing to share Your Love and the gift we have been given through Jesus Christ--eternal life. Lord, help us to see--not just with our physical eyes, but with our spiritual eyes to know we are honoring You with all we do.