Today's devotion

My reflections follow the devotion.


With the arrival of each new grandchild, I've seen this device appear in their home; it looks like a little transistor radio. But there's really not much channel selection on this little radio. In fact, there's only one channel. It's tuned to Baby. When Mom has put the little angel to sleep, she goes into another room and she turns on what they call a baby monitor. With it, you can hear any unusual noise coming from the baby's room, and then you know baby needs you. My observation in our family has been that no matter what else is going on in the room, Mommy remains mentally tuned to that one channel; always listening for a sound from baby.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Monitoring Heaven."

There's an old Gospel song called "Turn Your Radio On." One verse says, "Each of us is a radio receiver", the idea being that we should be tuned to one channel - God's channel. If you want a life with solid direction instead of confusion, well, that's not a bad idea. The problem is, there are so many voices on so many channels broadcasting into your heart that too many times we miss our Creator's voice. Oh, He's speaking, but we're not hearing. So we're on our own on the wrong road.
That's why the example of Samuel in our word for today from the Word of God is so important. In 1 Samuel 3:10, there are six words that, if they are frequently in your heart and on your lips, can literally change the course of your life. Because you'll know what God wants you to do in each situation, and you'll be living the plan you were made for.
Samuel is a young man, living at God's temple, training for spiritual leadership under the chief priest, Eli. Three times a voice calling Samuel's name woke him from his night's sleep. And three times Samuel got up and reported it to Eli. Well, the third time Eli got it; the Lord must have something to say to this boy. So, following Eli's instruction, Samuel goes back, lies down, ready to respond in the way Eli had wisely advised him to. The Bible says, "Then the Lord came and stood there, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, (Now here are those six powerful words; one of the most significant prayers in the Bible.) 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
Sadly, a more honest prayer many times would be this. "Listen, Lord, your servant is speaking." We talk to God a lot more than we listen to God. Instead, like a young mother attentively listening to that monitor for that one voice she always responds to, you and I should always be listening for a voice from heaven in our heart. It's hard to pick up what God's saying if you're talking all the time, if you're running so fast and so hard that you run right past God's still, small voice. If you're a controlling person who basically wants God to bless what you do rather than you doing what God will bless. God may have been trying to say something to you on many occasions, and you missed it because you were too busy, too distracted, or just too set on your own way. Great way to mess up the beautiful thing God is trying to do.
Nehemiah "prayed to the God of heaven" before he "answered the king" the Bible says (Nehemiah 2:4). He "prayed to our God" it says when he was suddenly facing serious danger (Nehemiah 4:9). David "inquired of God" the Bible says before he decided whether or not to become involved in a battle (1 Chronicles 14:10). Jesus "spent the night praying to God" before He made His staff selections (Luke 6:13). Always, for those who want God's best, there is that stopping to say, "Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening." Every time you open your Bible, every time you go to church, every time you consult with a spiritual brother or sister, say it: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."
There probably already have been too many times when God was calling your name with a message just for you and you missed it, because you weren't consciously listening for Him. If you want to make regret-free, error-free decisions in your life, make a lifestyle of always listening for the voice of God.

I was excited to read this, this morning. At first, I was going to skip it, but something (God) told me to continue to read. It really spoke to me.
As in the past few posts, I am doing my best to focus on God's Will not Cindy's Will. I'm doing my best to tune into God's channel. As much as I respect my elders and others comments and opinions, the words that really count are God's. One verse that keeps popping up is Matthew 19:21. It's the story of the rich, young, righteous man, who asks Jesus what he needs to do to be perfect. Jesus tells him to "sell your possessions, and give to the poor...Then follow me."
I am ready and willing to go this far. Those who are attached to their possessions will not understand this. God will provide for me, just as he provides for the sparrow. I may never have a big new house or an expensive new car, but that's ok. You can't take these things to Heaven. I'd rather have my "treasures" for eternity, not temorarily here on Earth.
I am told to focus on my children, as they grow up quickly. If God's plan is for me to be in a different physical location than I am now, He will protect my children. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "God will open and close doors in order to lead me to where he needs me." Yes, those plans may disappoint those around me, however I am chosing to bow to God only.