I love this question so much, and I’ve learned so much from asking it over and over again.

Because the question is 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 Samuel learns to hear Him first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“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.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

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.

Can you imagine if Ruth posted her situation and asked for advice from a Facebook group?!

I’m sure she’d 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 conversion first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.