But I don’t want us to tune this question out…

Because the question is actually so EMPOWERING!⁣

It’s not: “How to you get God to answer your prayers?”⁣

It’s not: “How do you get God to speak to you every day?”⁣

It’s not: “Are you worthy enough to have God speak to you?”⁣

No. ⁣

Instead, this powerful question has one big underlying assumption:⁣

God speaks to us. ⁣

All of us. ⁣

Right?!⁣

If we are trying to figure out how to hear the word of the Lord in our lives, then we have to trust that He is actually speaking to us. ⁣

Young Samuel’s story is so relatable. ⁣

The Lord called out his name in the middle of the night, ready to deliver a message. ⁣

… and Samuel assumed it was Eli. ⁣

Eli was the one who taught Samuel how to #HearHim, in a quite literal sense! ⁣

“Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” (1 Samuel 3:10) ⁣

Thy servant heareth. ⁣

It’s on me, really. ⁣

Am I ready to hear?⁣

Or am I too prideful? Too busy? Too forgetful? Too loud? Too selfish?⁣

Yup, all of those at different times. ⁣

And so I have to work to actually listen. ⁣

To say that urgent prayer in the middle of a kid’s meltdown and listen and EXPECT the Spirit to prompt me on what to do. ⁣

To ask for comfort and direction before I go and do something I’m dreading and then make space for an answer to come. ⁣

To feel overwhelmed and then proactively play some uplifting music, knowing that the notes and lyrics will connect me with Him. ⁣

God does not want to leave me comfortless, directionless, helpless. ⁣

I have faith that this is true. ⁣

He speaks. ⁣

So will I hear Him?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post An empowering question first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She prayed with her whole soul at the tabernacle. ⁣

“She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” (1 Samuel 1:10)⁣

Her husband didn’t understand. ⁣

“Why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8)⁣

Why do you care so much?⁣

Why so much emotion?⁣

What’s even going on? ⁣

The priest Eli didn’t understand either. ⁣

“Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.” (1 Samuel 1:14)⁣

Too many feelings. ⁣

Too much emotion. ⁣

This can’t be right. ⁣

Hannah’s heartfelt, heartbroken, sincere emotions were misunderstood by those around her. ⁣

Was she crazy? Could she be trusted? ⁣

And yet those deep emotions, that deep bitterness, led her to the Lord. ⁣

Led her to make a sacred vow. ⁣

Gave her both the broken heart and the spiritual confidence to ask for what she wanted. ⁣

Paved the way for a son to be brought into her life, one who would eventually bless all of Israel. ⁣

Hannah felt pain and sorrow and she wasn’t afraid to express it. ⁣

And when the blessing came?⁣

So much joy that she couldn’t contain that, either. ⁣

“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” (1 Samuel 2:1)⁣

I am grateful for this emotional, spiritually strong woman. ⁣

And I’m thankful for the strong emotions each of us can experience, even if misunderstood by others at the time, that can lead us closer to God.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Emotional Hannah first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Facebook groups are (generally) awesome. ⁣

A normal occurrence, no matter what kind of group you are part of, is for someone to post details about their complicated or tricky situation and then ask for advice. ⁣

I’m sure Ruth would get comments like⁣

“Your mother-in-law sounds so sweet! Give her a big hug and say goodbye!”⁣

“Set your boundaries. Being homeless and starving isn’t something you should ever settle for.”⁣

“You realize you will have NOTHING if you go with her, right? Why is this even a question?!”⁣

It made absolutely no logical sense for a widowed woman to accompany another widowed woman, especially when the younger could return to her home and find care and sustenance. ⁣

But Ruth chose to stay with Naomi and travel back to Bethlehem. ⁣

Why?⁣

It was basically a death sentence. ⁣

Or at least a wish to be poor and starving forever. ⁣

Ruth explained, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”. (Ruth 1:16)⁣

Here, Ruth reveals that she is completely converted to the God of Israel. ⁣

She’s all in. ⁣

I don’t think she ever would have actually asked for advice in a Facebook group anyways. ⁣

It wasn’t an option, no matter how reasonable it seemed, to stay behind. To return to her old life. Old traditions. ⁣

To just pretend that this whole thing had never happened. ⁣

Ruth couldn’t do that. ⁣

She was too converted, and she was willing to endure whatever hardships came her way as a result. ⁣

What conviction!⁣

What commitment. ⁣

What love. ⁣

Where is our conversion to the Lord?⁣

Will we follow Him anywhere He takes us?⁣

Even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when everyone on Facebook would tell us it’s ridiculous. ⁣

Why did Ruth go with Naomi?⁣

And why do you stay with the Lord?⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Ruth’s Facebook advice first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.