WATCHWORD:
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 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. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
11 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. 1 Samuel 3:7-11
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Meditation:
Blessed Research, Part 2: Inspiration
Morning? Evening? Or maybe, you find time in the middle of the day? I’m talking about those times when we read the Bible, devotionals, meditate and pray. In the midst of all that reading and praying, do we pause and listen? In our silence, with our minds in neutral, God speaks to us. He speaks to us through the Word, through those devotionals, and in our silence, answers our prayers.
This meditation is about those times when God and our better angels speak. You know, that last point is true. God and my/your better angels do speak to us, if we would but listen. Oh, we might say it’s just a small voice within speaking to you and me, maybe we chalk it up to our conscience or perhaps it’s a recollection of comments by loved ones, long ago. Maybe it comes floating in your memory from something read a while back, or perhaps a bit a wisdom shared by a friend that has taken on new meaning because now you are in a different place.
Oh, yes, the voices are always there. God nudges us outside of our being that seems to move us where we never thought we would go. Perhaps, like me, you call it inspiration or creativity. It makes no difference, in my mind those thoughts or voices that are outside our being, are voices of our better angels, our Lord speaking to us.
A couple of years ago my daughter sent me a video of Elizabeth Gilbert (Author of Eat, Pray, Love) speaking to a graduate class in creative writing. She explained that she believes that all the works of art, or music or writing, those great works that have been given accolades throughout history, and all those that are totally unknown that may reside on yellowing paper tucked into a notebook somewhere, all had their Genesis outside of our being. Her own inspiration she refers to as her “muse”. I rather like that, but it doesn’t change the fact that, in my mind, it is simply God communicating.
Gilbert goes on to say that “There’s a crack (or cracks) in everyone…that’s how the light of God gets in.” It’s that light of God that triggers the inspiration that leads to art, music or interesting writing. It’s not the artist or the musician or the author, alone, it’s the mix of those with that light from God. Things that we do, how we live our lives, how we reach out to others and how we respond to others when they reach out to us, that is all part of the mix. There is inspiration in the ‘who’ that you are.
Back to devotionals and how we welcome God into our lives each day. When I was 19 and in the army, I learned a habit that I have been unable to break. Most every morning I’m awake at 4 or 4:30 a.m., even without reveille. Most of the time it’s not especially bothersome, and I have come to realize that early morning is my best time to spend with God.
Since 1983 I have been using Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for his Highest, first the original, then, ten years ago, I switched to an updated version. Then I began to add others: Verse-A-Day, Our Daily Bread, Jesus Calling. All speak to me in one way or another and I often find the thoughts and the words strike me where I live at that moment. My friend likes Joyce Meyers‘ book The Confident Woman and she has often turned to Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional.
Regardless of what you might read in your daily devotionals, those words may touch you and shed God’s light on your lives. The better question may be ‘what do we do with God’s thoughts, words, the inspiration that shines through those faith cracks of ours?’ That’s a personal question and we each have our own response.
Some of you may know Pastor Robert Morris, who has a program on Trinity Network Sunday evening. Recently he talked about the difference between God’s creation and what God has made. I’m not sure I fully understand the difference, except that God’s creation, such as “Let there be light!”, is different from what God has made. What God has made, or will make, often comes through the gifts and the graces that flow from him, unbidden and unceasing, to us. God makes whatever he makes, with our minds, our voices and our hands. Our role is to take the light that shines through our cracks and let it reflect on others as we live these lives that God has given us. Amen? Of course, Amen.
Closing Prayers:
Touch me, O Lord, and fill me with your light and your hope. Amen. Dear God, please give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, comfort when I am alone, hope when I feel rejected, and peace when I am in turmoil. Amen
Lord, I pray you would move the Spirit more boldly in my life. I know that any sin can grieve and diminish the voice of the Spirit, and I pray against the temptation to sin. Help me crave your presence more than I crave sin. Help me grow in the fruit of the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from your Spirit- let your will and promises always be a meditation of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
