Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10
Listening God,
In the beginning, you created the whole world – the stars, planets, mountains, animals, the tiniest living creatures, snow and rain, sweet-smelling flowers, beautiful rocks, and yet you also care about the smallest intricacies of our lives. All of the details as well as the biggest visioning picture. We are so grateful that you choose to listen to those still small things in our lives. That you listen to every last worry and care. God, may we too listen to you. May our world listen to you. May we spend less time speaking and more time seeking out you and your voice.
May we all listen as you listen to all of the worries of our world. We know that you are listening, and yet we still sit in worry about what will happen next for our communities, our neighbors, and our spaces. God, we lift up those in our world who especially need to be listened to now. For the people of Palestine and Israel as violence does not cease, and mistrust and misunderstanding continue.
God, may you listen to the people of Ecuador, at one time a very peaceful country, which is now ravaged with violence. We pray for the news broadcast team there that was held hostage. We pray for all of those living in fear of violence and brutality as the government wages war on gangs.
We pray for all of the places around the world where politics shape the lives of your people who are not placed at the forefront of lawmaker’s minds. We pray for the people of Taiwan as they experience turmoil with China.
We pray for your listening presence for those in the United States where storms and tornados have destroyed homes and killed family members of those now left behind alone and without a home and many more without power. We pray that you may hear their cry as they also listen for your comforting Spirit.
God, we long to incline our ears to you. When our world needs to just breathe, may you give us time to do that. When we need someone to listen to us when we feel alone, may you be that presence for us. When we don’t know what to do with the things happening in our community, may we breathe in your abiding Spirit so that we might be at peace.
We are listening, God. May we continue to hear your voice in the beautiful faces of this world.
Amen.
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