Years ago, a friend of mine repented and prayed against the spirit of self-sufficiency. Just hearing this made my ears more attentive, and I began reflecting on the times I took control of situations I had prayed about or should have released to the Lord. Since then, I have continually prayed for the Lord to remove the innate reaction to be self-sufficient and instead help me become fully reliant on Him. In Scripture, we are reminded: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” ...

This is where we see Samuel walking in wisdom, even at a young age, and before he fully understood what was happening. He didn’t yet recognize the Lord’s voice, but he still responded with humility, trust, and obedience.

Jesus modeled what love looks like. Starting with the Samaritan woman, He made an extra trip to get there. He made a point to stop, and when He did, He sat with her and spoke to her. He looked into her eyes, and He confirmed love.