When God Speaks

By Mary Bickerstaff

Be still and know that I am God…

Psalms 46:10

 

A nursery rhyme tells us,

“A wise old owl lived in an oak.

The more he saw, the less he spoke.

The less he spoke, the more he heard.

Why can’t we all be like this wise old bird?”

It’s a noisy world.  We’re bombarded with words all day long.  God sometimes speaks in whispers.  How can we hear God when He speaks to us?  Let’s look at two examples from the Bible.

As a teacher, Jesus spoke many words.  Before He spoke, He found a quiet place to pray.   He listened.  God told Him what to teach His followers.

The boy, Samuel, heard a whisper in the night.

It was God calling, “Samuel!  Samuel!”

Samuel got out of bed, went to his mentor, Eli, and said, “You called me?”

Eli said, “I didn’t call you.  Go back to bed.”

The third time this happened, Eli said to Samuel, “The next time you hear a voice call you, say, ‘Speak, Lord.  Your servant is listening.’”

Samuel heard the voice again.  He answered, “Speak, Lord.  Your servant is listening.”

God gave Samuel a very important message.  Samuel was obedient and became a great prophet.

Yes, Samuel, Jesus, and the wise old owl  know how important it is to listen.  God still speaks to boys and girls today.  What do you hear when you are still and listen for God to speak to you?

Mary is a freelance writer with a special focus on the spirituality

of children and the sacredness of all life.  She is a graduate of The

Childrens Institute of Literature and has been published in Pockets

Magazine.  She is an RN, Reiki Practitioner, and a Certified Spiritual Director.