Samuel was still a youth when he first heard God speak to him. In fact, even though his mother had dedicated him to serving God in the temple, Samuel didn’t even recognize that it was God who was calling his name. To me, this says something about the spiritual condition of the priests who should have been training Samuel in the ways of God. Which then prompted me to inwardly ask, “Are our churches today doing any better? Are we training people to recognize when God is speaking to them?” God does know us by name. He knows your name…and He knows my name.
Third time’s a charm
Imagine lying in your bed at night, just about to drift off to sleep and you hear your name. How would you respond? Young Samuel thought it was Eli, the priest. So he jumps out of bed and hurries to Eli to see what he needs. But Eli didn’t call him and the old priest sent him back to bed. Again, Samuel hears his name and he jumps out of bed and runs to Eli. This happens three times before the priest finally figures out what’s going on. Now keep in mind we’re talking about the priest and it took three times before he gets its —- its God calling Samuel. So Eli tells Samuel to go back to bed and when he hears the voice again to say, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.”
The Sovereign, omniscient creator knows my name
It wasn’t that Samuel was praying, seeking God’s will, and waiting for God to respond. Samuel wasn’t praying for a revival in his nation or for God to get rid of a pandemic virus. Samuel was actually lying down in bed trying to sleep when God calls him by name. That in and of itself should stir a thrill with in our hearts.
Our sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, God – the creator of the heavens of earth, the one who tells the stars to come out, the one who tells the sea “stop there you can go no further” — that God – He calls us by our name. We are never forgotten. We are never out of His sight. Nor are we are ever in such a crisis that God doesn’t know it. He is a God that loves us with an everlasting and faithful love who desires to have a personal relationship – and He calls us by our name.
My name is engraved in the palm of His hand
I’m reminded of my grandmother. As my sisters and I were growing up she would go through all three of our names and then say, ‘which one are you?’ God never calls me by another person’s name. He never gets confused. He knows my name. In fact, my name is engraved in the palm of His hand. I am that special to Him – and so are you.
Do you recognize when God calls your name
Has God ever had a job or a message for you and when God calls your name, you look around like, “Who called me?” Have you ever been seeking His will and you pray and pray, but you never stop and listen? Is the voice of God so unexpected or seldom heard that you don’t recognize His voice? When He calls, are you more likely to lay out a “fleece” like Gideon to see if what you heard was real? Would you be like Moses and out of curiosity say, “Let me go inspect this burning bush that isn’t burning up?” Would you be like Moses and give God all the excuses as to why it shouldn’t be you doing the task He has for you? Or would you be like Samuel and say, “Speak, Lord, your servant hears?”
When God calls your name, are you obedient, even if the task is difficult?
God is always looking for the people that are ready to not only hear Him, but also have a willing heart to obey Him. Samuel’s very first task is to give old Eli a very difficult message, but as we read the verses that follow, Samuel was obedient. Eli had been Samuel’s guardian and mentor. He did not want to give him bad news, but he was obedient to God. Because Samuel was willing to receive and obey God’s word, we find in verse 21 that “the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.”
God, it amazes me that out of the billions of people who populate the earth and out of all the many more people who have lived since you created Adam – you know my name and you call me by my name. Give us ears to hear you, a heart willing to listen and obey, no matter the difficulty or the cost.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
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Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
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Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Download our Free Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
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This week’s new Christian Tees designs:
Class of 2021
This week, we are celebrating the accomplishments of the class of 2021. If you have a high school, college, or university graduate this year, our Class of 2021 shirts and products make a great gift. View the samples below and other products in this design in our Spreadshop store. Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!
Graduating Seniors
For all the seniors celebrating graduation in a few months. Includes Jeremiah 29:11. If you have a senior graduating, this design makes a great gift.
Here are some of our favorite designs
Godfidence 
Anything is possible 
With my song I will praise Him 
All Things New 
Joy of the Lord 
Way Maker 
Walk by Faith 
Script Unstoppable God 
Print Unstoppable God 
Unstoppable Force 
Steps of a Good Man 
Something New 
Seek and Find 
Revive Us Again 
Resist the Devil 
Raise a Hallelujah 
Path of His Commands 
Prayer Warrior 
Beloved- Mr and Mrs 
Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan 
Man of God 
He Left 99 for Me 
Cast All Your Cares 
Giants 
Faith over Fear 
Faith Can Move Mountains 
Don’t Worry 
Don’t Quit 
Created to Praise 
All things are Possible 
What the Lord Requires 
Living for the world to see Jesus 
Face Masks now available! 
All things are possible 
Run with perseverance 
Revive us again, Lord
New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.
God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.
We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.
Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube
You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
- Conversation Starters.
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
- Romance Builders.
- Relationship Builders.
- Personal reflections.
- Date ideas.
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
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