The season of Epiphany this year has challenged me. The truth is the Lord is always wanting to speak. We are not always willing to listen. My heart is not always tuned to the frequency of his voice.

In 1 Samuel 3:1-20 we have the call of Samuel. He is a young boy serving in the tabernacle of the Lord. The voice of the Lord calls out to Samuel and he doesn’t know the voice. Thinking it’s Eli calling him, he goes into Eli. Eli helps Samuel discern this is the voice of the Lord.

The counsel of Eli to Samuel is good. Samuel was to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Israel was supposed to be the people of the presence of God. Their rebellion had turned off their reception. Finally, young Samuel hears the calling out of the voice of God and Israel can begin to hear the voice of the Lord again.

The season of Epiphany is glorious because we are reminded of all the “unfolding” appearances of the Lord. We are also reminded that not everyone was paying attention. I want this to be a season of listening. I want to take in the unfolding of the manifestations of God in my life and in the world around me.

We need to go from, “Listen, Lord, for your servant is speaking!” to “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”