Open His Book

Of the many things we enjoy yet fail to fully appreciate, the ability to see and hear are surely two!Often it's not until we begin to experience loss of or impaired seeing and hearing we realize this. A young Samuel was wakened from sleep by a voice he presumed to be his guardian Eli. Scripture says on the third time, "Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, 'Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place." (1 Samuel 3:8-9 NASB). This was good advice because Samuel heard yet again God's voice: "the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening'"" (V.10). There are many voices speaking to us today, and many of them are voices we should not listen to: they are not the Lord speaking to us, rather the enemy! How do we hear from God and distinguish the voice as His alone? Open His Word - from there He speaks perfectly. What He says from there is living and active and sharp (Hebrews 4:12); His voice is a lamp and a light (Psalm 119:105); His voice is sanctifying truth (John 17:17); His words are eternal (Isaiah 40:8); His voice brings spirit and life (John 6:63); His words are the very breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16). If you're struggling to see of and hear from God, a good first-step is to ... open His Book.