Being overly sensitive to sound is a sign of creative genius. Research suggests that those who are extremely sensitive to sound might find it easier to think creatively because they’re able to focus on a wide range of things simultaneously. Now, I’m not a creative genius, but I am very sensitive to sound—particularly the sound of our children calling out in the night!
After struggling to become pregnant, Hannah was blessed with a son and kept her promise to give Samuel back to God, where he served in the temple under the supervision of Eli the priest for the rest of his life (1 Samuel 1:27-28, 2:11, 3:1). Over the years, the young boy became sensitive to the sound of his adoptive father Eli. But in Israel at the time, messages and visions from the Lord were uncommon, and so Samuel didn’t initially recognize the voice of God when He called out to him one night. After he ran to Eli for the third time when he heard his name called, the priest realized that God was calling Samuel.
The next time he heard his name, Samuel responded: “Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). This is where Samuel’s journey of listening and responding to God began. “The Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. . . . The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and He gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle” (1 Samuel 3:19,21).
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Just as Samuel became sensitive to the voice of God and responded to it, we encounter His wisdom in Scripture and through the counsel of the Holy Spirit. May we take another step in our journey of listening and responding to Him today!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Daniel 2:25-49
More:
Read Psalm 46:10 for more on how being still and listening allows us to really know God.
Next:
Whose voice are you sensitive to? Whose call do you respond to? Why? Just as with Samuel, may we know the presence of God throughout the day.
Gary Shultz on May 30, 2016 at 6:19 am
Isn’t that a great account Ruth? I think many times people today are waiting for some voice from God like Samuel. God was building and forming His nation and His word. He was not done adding to this encompassing book we have today. God had the need to speak in a direct distinct way to have this record complied and completed the way He wanted it. Although it would be nice to hear God speak in that form He has delivered a totally completed work for us, no more needs to be said for our life’s progress. Of course that is not to discount being in the presence of God, to allow the Spirit to minister to us and allow that unexplainable closeness to the person of God. We find communication in the word and in His presence, which I suppose, not too far from the closeness Samuel had…. After punching this out, I must also remember I am hard of hearing so I would slide rather low on the intelligence scale… It is Memorial Day for us, but I pray you have a great day, thanks Ruth.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on May 30, 2016 at 11:08 am
Hi Gary, a very happy Memorial Day to you! As with scientific research, I’m sure there’s a study out there that proves the genius intelligence of many ‘hard-of-hearing’ individuals 😉 God has equipped you to ‘hear’ Him and be aware of His and other’s intentions, without being sensitive to sound. God knows us intimately and is very aware of how we best hear Him – that’s then how He then communicates with us. We have to be aware of that though and still our rushed thoughts and actions for long enough to hear Him and respond to Him.
gagirllive on May 30, 2016 at 7:29 am
Ruth, after reading this I immediately thought of Hebrews 1: 1-2…”God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the Fathers by the prophets, but has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.” Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and that is where and how I hear Him best…in the Word of God. I feel so blessed to open up this record everyday and know that He will speak to me. I don’t always understand what He’s saying, but just being in His presence and knowing that the words I am reading are His words is such a comfort to me, even when they bring correction. I pray all the time that He will keep me sensitive to His voice and responsive to His touch. His voice is the voice of Truth in a world of lies. I desperately need to hear it…and obey it. This a great encouragement today, Ruth. Thank you. Grace and peace to you.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on May 30, 2016 at 11:17 am
Thanks gagirllive. I was reading Psalm 139 again today and the truth of who I am and how I am known by my Maker was a timely and much-needed reminder of the truth of the wonder of who we are in the eyes of God, rather than people. If we quiet ourselves for long enough and ask God to speak to us, He will speak and we will hear and see Him in His Word, through circumstances and people, in songs and in the still, small voice – the spontaneous thoughts that resonate and confirm His Word.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on May 30, 2016 at 11:41 am
God does indeed speak to us in many different ways – He’s always trying to get our attention, if only we would become ‘sensitive’ to His voice. A few weeks ago, on my wedding anniversary (and with my husband working away), I was driving down the highway when I spotted a big, bright sunflower growing in the middle of one of the lanes. Now I drive past this exact point every day, and I had never seen a sunflower growing out of the road. I noticed it because it was at the exact spot where I needed to slow down to turn off the highway. As I pondered the fact that I had seen a sunflower growing out of the middle of the highway, it dawned on me that t may very well have been a gift from God – on my anniversary, when my husband wasn’t around. It just so happens that my favorite flower is a sunflower. Regardless of whether it was God speaking to me or not, I felt so loved and cherished by God in that moment.
gagirllive on May 30, 2016 at 11:56 am
How sweet, Ruth! I call those incidences “God hugs”. Yup, I’d say God was speaking to ya! 🙂 A few years ago I asked Jesus to give me little “hugs”. I know that may seem flaky to some people, but I really needed to feel a special touch of His presence. This may not mean anything to anyone else, but after that prayer I started seeing my birth date on all my digital clocks. Just at random times throughout the day I would happen to glance at the clock and there it was…12:14. It felt like a hug…as though He was saying, “I see you. I know you. I love you.” It still happens and usually on the very days that I’m struggling. He’s sweet like that, isn’t He?
sandy229 on May 30, 2016 at 1:31 pm
That is really awesome gagirl, not flaky at all! Sometimes we need something to make us feel closer to God and feel His presence even though we know He is always with us. It’s like the mountain top, we just want to keep climbing higher and higher until we are consumed and saturated with His Mighty presence, and feel like we can’t get enough of Him. Actually, we can’t….but I love that about your birthday being on the clock….that is so cool. You know He was telling you, here is a little hug for you, I haven’t forgotten you…….that is so cool.
hsnpoor on May 31, 2016 at 1:09 am
What a lovely story!
gagirllive on May 30, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Boo! The rest of my comment was truncated. I was sharing a story about how God does this sweet little thing for me. A few years ago I asked Jesus to give me some little “hug” . I really needed to experience His touch. Soon after that prayer I started noticing that every time I looked at my digital clocks—just at seemingly random times—it was always on my birth date. Now I know that that can only happen twice in a twenty-four hour period, but that’s just what happened. I’d be going along with my day (or night) and glance at the time and there it was…12:14. It felt so personal…like He was saying, “I see you. I know you. I love you.” It still happens, especially on “hard days”. He’s so sweet like that, isn’t He?
godlove on May 30, 2016 at 1:56 pm
I usually tend to be a little bit sceptical about today’s “prophets” who claim to permanently receive messages and visions from God with news to spread, almost as if they had some sort of private line through which He speaks only to them. Personally, I think God speaks to each and every one of His children, if only we would listen to His voice. It may not have been in the form of a direct, clear, vision but I know God has spoken to me on numerous occasions either through Scripture or through people He has put on my path (family relatives, friends, preachers). This has been the case particularly when I turn to Him asking for guidance and help in decision making, when I am waiting for His advice. Thanks for this reminder today, Ruth, I really should be still and listen to the Lord’s voice much more often.
hsnpoor on May 31, 2016 at 1:20 am
I’m with you on that, godlove, about so-called modern-day prophets. They usually seem to be trying to put some newfangled spin on time-tested theology, but the main reason I’m more than a little skeptical is because of the scripture quoted be GAgirl above, which pretty much says that Jesus has said all that needs to be said; the last word, as it were. What more could or even should a modern day prophet say or add? My answer is absolutely nothing! At least nothing I want to hear…..