July #jammed: Grace serves.

Day 204: Take time to breathe.

“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 3:10

When children learn to play the recorder, that magical instrument that is music to every parents’ ear, they are taught to breathe between the notes. Otherwise, they run out of air.

If we talk without pausing we run out of air. When we run, we need to synch our breathing to our stride or we’ll run out breath. Deep breathing is healthy for just about everything …from stretching our muscles to calming our anxiety.“Take a deep breath,” is my go-to for my youngest when she’s about to flip her flip-out switch.

Today’s Scripture tells the story of how God called Samuel, a great prophet from the Old Testament, who would grow up to anoint Israel’s first king. In the night, God called him by name.

“Samuel! Samuel!”

Just a boy, he though it was Eli, the temple priest raising Him in service to God. After Eli sent him back to sleep a couple of times, it dawned on the old man that it was God calling the boy’s name. He instructed Samuel in what to say the next time God called his name, and sure enough …

“Samuel! Samuel!” On the third time, Samuel said, “Speak! For your servant is listening.”

He needed to take a breath. Out of a dead sleep, he needed a minute to collect himself and seek guidance. And God, in all His love and grace, gave Samuel a chance to breathe …and called him again.

Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we take a deep breath. The sin we owe our lives for is traded in for life by the loss of Jesus’ last breath on earth. It’s in the pause to breath that we hear from Him. When we strain to hear His voice it’s important to prayerfully pause and meet Him in His Word. There, He breaths Truth into our hearts and lights our paths.

Father, Praise You for patience. Thank You for knowing each of us personally …calling us by name. Forgive us for closing off our ears to hear, and help us to take a breath in between life’s notes …to allow our hearts to be moved by Your hand. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Friend-ing

Megs

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