Practise What I Have Learned
BRD REFLECTIONS:
1 Samuel 3:1-21; 4:1 and Psalm 44 (NIV)
(Lau Lee Fang, CiC Facilitator)
READ:
The following verses helped me check my presence to GOD and my awareness of His presence:
1 Samuel 3: 10b: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Psalm 44: 23-24: Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse Yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
OBSERVE:
A sense of exhilaration struck me when reading Samuel’s words, “Speak, for your servant is listening” because I imagined myself to be in Samuel’s privileged position and expected to be awestruck by God’s presence upon hearing His voice.
In contrast, the Psalmist’s pleading in Psalm 44:23-24 for God to rouse from His sleep and not reject His people created a sense of despondency in me, and an image of a teary and confused toddler frantically trying to unsuccessfully to get the father’s attention came to mind.
APPLY:
Samuel obediently applied Eli’s guidance (verses 9-10), waited on God and heard Him. Similarly, God has given me guidance through many means of grace, and these verses in 1 Samuel 3 remind me to apply them obediently.
The sons of Korah in Psalm 44 were still waiting in their misery and crushed state to hear God, but as they waited, they praised His wonderful attributes..
In my pain and misery I can lament to God, lean on His attributes and promises while walking towards His light.
DO:
I shall obediently practise spiritual disciplines to increase my awareness of God’s presence and enjoy Him.
I shall hold on to one attribute of God at a time so that I will not run out of praises to Him to sustain me through the dark nights of my soul.
PRAY:
Father GOD,
Teach me to revere You always, to be truly humble and fully obey You that though afflicted, I may still rejoice in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
