Speak Lord, your servant is listening

This morning I'm reading 1 Samuel 3 and I read these words,

1 Samuel 3

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am."
5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

I've read this passage many times and thought about the message. It's humorous to see Samuel's response as he learns to listen to God. Clearly, as the passage indicates, "Samuel did not yet know the LORD." He still did not know who was speaking and so assumed it was Eli calling him. God patiently waits for him to figure it out and his response to God is one I want in my own life, "Speak, for your servant is listening." These are profound words on several points, 1. There has to be a desire to hear from God to begin with. A desire to know what he says, what he wants. 2. There must be a heart that is ready to hear....a servant's heart...a heart and ear ready to respond. Many in our day would frame it this way, "Ok, God, what do you want? If I like it I'll do it." I'm sorry, he won't be talking to that person! For the ear to hear the heart must be bowed. A servant ready to go. And, 3. from this position of knowing who is talking, being ready to serve comes ears that can hear. "Your servant is listening" is an amazing invitation to God's word. It should be our prayer each time we read his word, "Speak, for your servant is listening." What a great way to spend time with him. What a great way to be ready to respond to what he says. There are times when the word of God is rare, but a humble heart ready to hear will always hear God speak.