I Samuel 3:9 contains one of the great prayers in scripture: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Eli taught Samuel to say it to God the next time He called him in the tabernacle. It is a simple but powerful prayer.

First, it demonstrates a vital openness to hear whatever God would say: “Speak Lord.” And it also involves surrender: he calls himself, “Your servant.” It is understood that it is the commitment of the servant to DO whatever his Lord commands.

We would do well to pray this prayer:
— as we begin our Bible readings every morning. Pray: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
— when we are about to listen to a sermon or a Bible lesson. Whisper: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
— whenever we are seeking to prepare a message or lesson for others. Make your prayer to God: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
— during special times of seeking God in key junctures of your life, let your heart cry to Him be: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”

Although many of us are rightly leery of “canned” prayers, and while any formula faces the danger of becoming empty with repetition (see Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 6), most of us would do very well to imitate Samuel’s heartfelt prayer: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”