Verse: Acts 16:6-10
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Thoughts
There’s an amazing story in the Old Testament about a young boy named Samuel. He is trying to sleep and he keeps hearing God’s voice, but he thinks it is his mentor, Eli’s, voice. So he keeps going to Eli and saying, “yo, what do you need, I’m trying to sleep.” Eventually Eli said, I think it’s God and he told him, to say this next time:

“Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

So he did, and God spoke to him.

I see those six words as being crucial for the Christian life. When you read today’s verses from Acts, an account of Paul and Luke traveling and doing ministry together, you can see how dependent they were on the voice of God. At every point they were being led by the Spirit.

Those six words defined their ministry, and they can define our lives too.

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

These words acknowledge our need for wisdom, they put us in a place of humility and receptiveness, they point our hearts towards the guidance and leadership of Jesus, and most importantly they make us shut up so we can listen. So often we spend all our time with God talking AT him, instead of listening FOR him. What if we changed that?

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

Today, I encourage you in your prayer time to pray this prayer. And then begin to adopt this is as a regular prayer you pray. “God throughout the day, let me be available and attentive to your voice and the leading of your Spirit.”

Prayer
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

Author: Christian Dunn