"Speak, Lord, For Your Servant is Listening..."

In church yesterday, Pastor Elliott encouraged us to allow ourselves to be quiet in times of prayer. Just as Samuel had to listen to Eli's advice about answering God and saying "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening...", we too, need to ask God to speak to us.

Something kind of cool happened today. After I prayed, I left time at the end of my prayer... I asked God to speak to me. I sat, quietly, for what felt like a long time. I had my eyes closed and my head lifted toward Heaven. After awhile of waiting to hear God, I started to feel frustrated. I asked "Are you even there?" I knew He was, but I was kind of annoyed that He wouldn't speak to me. I adjusted myself and bowed my head, then opened my eyes. Do you know what I saw, as I sat "pretzel legged" on my bed? I saw my bruises and scars on my legs from an injury I had several years ago. And do you know what I heard? I heard a soft voice in my head tell me "You are beautiful." I smiled. I know that originally, God had not created me with bruises, marks, and scars. But He had brought me through the times of pain and injury and has created a great work inside of me. As I smiled because I knew God thought I was beautiful, I also heard that voice tell me "Your legs work just fine, use them with joy." What a blessing!

Last night, I was laying in bed, and though I hadn't really spent a whole lot of time in prayer, I still tried it. I asked God to speak to me. I didn't totally realize it, but as I was falling asleep, I was smiling because I felt reminded of what a miracle my life is. I think God is trying to speak to me. In times of trials, and in times when I feel less than adequate, He is here to remind me just how much He loves me, what He's done in my life, and that He has made me beautifully in His image.