Day 8 – Leaning in

“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 “𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘦𝘭! 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘦𝘭!” 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, “𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.” 1 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘦𝘭 3:10

Have you ever noticed how, when you are truly intent on listening to someone, your body almost unconsciously leans forward? It’s as if your whole being is drawn closer, eager to catch every word. That simple act of leaning in reflects a deeper truth: 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. The closer we move toward the source, the clearer the sound becomes, and the easier it is to understand.

In the same way, God’s voice is not heard through force or compulsion. He will never override your free will or demand your attention. The Holy Spirit does not shout over the noise of life; He whispers, waiting for us to lean in. To draw nearer. To quiet our hearts and incline our ears. 𝘛𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯. As Revelation 3:20 reminds us, He knocks, but it is we who must open the door.

Leaning in means surrendering distractions, silencing competing voices, and positioning ourselves in expectancy. It is the posture of intimacy, of trust, of obedience. And when we lean in, we discover that God is not distant at all – He is near, waiting to speak life, direction, and comfort into our souls.

Samuel’s response is the posture of readiness: “Speak, Father, Your servant is listening.” That is the essence of leaning in. Choosing to move closer, to tune our hearts to His frequency, to make space for His voice above all others.

Pray with me: Father, today I open the doors to my heart and ears to you and say: Speak Father, your servant is listening.” I am leaning closer to You, leaning in to hear and recognise Your voice. Amen. ©

Pastor Iriza