“Elizabeth Diane Spencer!”
It's a phrase I’ve heard many times in my life, and not so much in a positive light. I’ve heard it from many people for many different reasons.
I have many memories of me sitting around my childhood home, watching television, fully believing I had gotten away with something I shouldn’t have done.
But then, that awful phrase…
Slow, deep, and full of frustration.. “Elizabeth. Diane. Spencer.”
My mother.
It was time to run. Yet somehow, I always knew better. Instead, I just cowarded where I was.
I would like to say times have changed, but I believe I have encountered the same phrase within the last month or so. Oops.
It’s a part of my life at this point.
But I will say, no matter how many times I’ve heard it, no matter who I have heard it from- I am always able to recognize the source of the statement.
My dad’s use is in a disappointed tone, my grandmother’s is usually high-pitched and full of energy and frustration, my brother's is more of a raised tone with a hint of frustration, and as mentioned, my mother’s is slow and carries much depth.
In a loud, crowded room, I could identify any of their voices- this is true whether they are calling me by my full name or just in conversation.
Jokes aside, there is a reason for this.
I am able to recognize the voices of others because I have come to learn their voices since knowing them.
If my mom were to call me in the wee hours of the morning (which she has, thankfully, stopped doing), I would be able to know who I’m hearing without even checking caller ID.
In the same way, if we spend enough time with the Lord, we will be able to recognize His voice when He speaks to us.
When teaching in class at Bryan, I called a couple students up to the front- one knew my mom and another did not. I played them a voice recording of three different women saying the same thing: “Elizabeth, it’s about time you take your Christmas tree down”.
The one who didn’t know my mom had to take a wild guess, and she answered incorrectly. The other, who has spent much time with and known my mother for many years, was able to confidently identify her voice within a second.
There is a similar example to this found within Scripture.
“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 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. 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. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening."
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Just like the first student, Samuel did not recognize the voice because he did not yet know the Lord. Thankfully, Eli, who is like the second student mentioned, knew God’s voice, was able to guide Him.
How much better would life be if we didn’t have to question if it was the Lord speaking to us?
In order to eliminate that question, we must get to know the Lord.
How do we get to know the Lord?
We spend time in His word.
We spend time communicating with Him through prayer.
We spend time expressing gratitude in order to remind us of all the Lord is, was, and will be.
We spend time being discipled by those who are more mature in their faith; just as Eli was mentoring Samuel and guided Him to the voice of God.
In conclusion, we spend time. Period.
In order for Samuel to hear from the Lord he had to step out in humility.
Samuel places himself in the position of a servant whose master has called him, so he comes ready to listen to his master's command and then obediently carries out his command.
In order for us to listen, we must be humble ourselves before the Lord. We can't come up with our own agenda.
Many of us use the phrase “There’s just not enough hours in the day”. And sadly, this often carries over into our intentional time with Jesus.
It has for me before.
Friends, I mean this with all gentleness:
We need to humble ourselves and recognize the necessity of spending intentional time with Jesus.
This means over sports events. This means over time going out. This means over time catching up on our favorite tv show.
It means over everything.
If we don’t spend time knowing God, we will never recognize His voice.
If we don’t recognize His voice, how do we listen to and follow Him?
“In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
Acts 9:10
Let us desire to be like Ananias, who was able to immediately answer the Lord when He called to Him.
Let us desire to press into God.
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains,like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3
Let me conclude with this: I’m learning. I am no author. I am no divine teacher. I am no master of the Bible.
I am a follower of Jesus who desires to be led by Him and who has been convicted by these words before I ever wrote them down.
These are mere thoughts that I hope can translate into your story.
So, just as I have, ask yourself- Do I know the voice of God? Am I able to recognize my master in the midst of a world that calls out to me from every angle? When I recognize His voice, am I being a hearer only?
It's time we listen and act upon the voice of God. It's time we become a people led by the Spirit of God rather than self.
Song for reflection, prayer, and singing:
"Eyes on You" - Mosaic MSC
"Abba" - John Mark Pantana
"God I Look to You" - Jenn Johnson
"Simple Gospel" - United Pursuit
"Close to Me - Acoustic" - Isla Vista Worship
"How to Be Yours" - Chris Renzema
Comments