Here I am

“Here I am.” Pause and let that phrase sink in. There’s something about it. A sense of readiness, willingness, and a beautiful awareness beyond what we seem to be able to achieve in our day to day. I have often read this phrase in scripture and I have always been drawn to it. In Genesis we read that God calls Abraham, and he replies “Here I am.” God tells Abraham to take his son, Isaac, and sacrifice him as an offering. I can’t even begin to imagine what was going through Abraham’s mind. The son God had promised, the one he had waited for years and came as a miracle, now he had to give as a sacrifice?

But Abraham didn’t let his questions get in the way. He probably couldn't sleep that night trying to make sense of it all, but his need for answers was not going to stop his obedience and without delay “Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.” (Genesis 22:3) I love the determination to comply. I imagine he had to get up early and get going just so his fear and pain would not stop him. As Abraham was ready to do as instructed he heard God calling him. Abraham’s reply again is “Here I am.” God told him not to hurt his son and He provided a ram as sacrifice. Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and Ananias all answered the same way when God called them- “Here I am”. Ready to follow God’s will no matter how difficult it may be. Their connection to God and obedience impresses me, and reminds me of the importance of being present.

I don’t know if I could reply to God with that swiftness. I am afraid half the time I may not even hear Him calling me because I am not “here”. I may still be  thinking about the things I should have said, done or avoided in the past. I may be trying to analyze things or regretting mistakes I made. I may be in my yesterday or I may be in my tomorrow. It is difficult to be ready to hear God’s soft calling If I am not here, how can I have a continuous conversation with God? How can I hear His voice if my own keeps talking to me louder each time? God doesn’t yell, He lovingly whispers. He sweetly calls us and He patiently waits for our answer. 

“...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33) First things first. That is my hope and goal each day and also one of the most difficult things to achieve. I have always had trouble staying still, pausing and listening, but that is exactly what I need to do in order to  be in the moment. The  key to being “here” is to make my quiet time with God a priority and first thing in the morning so I can set the tone for the rest of the day and make prayer a continuous conversation with my Father as I go throughout my day enjoying the gift of right here, right now.  

Manuelita