How do YOU answer God?

God has called all of us. Some think he only calls some to the ministry, the others he just lets do "their thing" but that is not the case at all, we are all called for his purposes. And yes I said all...He wants all of us to come to him as Lord and savior, and to put that individual calling into the hearts of all of us to do his work. But have you heard his call? Have you taken the time to get close enough to his mouth to hear his words to you? If so, how do you answer God? One of my favorite bible lessons is that of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. There are a lot of good lessons in what Abraham did, but one of the most over looked comments is how Abraham answers God's call. God called out to Abraham, he could have said, Who is it? or Just a minute..but now what he said was ...Here I am. He basically told the Lord that whatever was commanded of him he was willing to do. And it was no more evident than when he was asked to sacrifice his son on an altar. The story shows a lot of things from faith, to obedience, to love, and of course sacrifice. But I want to focus on obedience to God. I submit that at the moment that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, it was that moment in Abraham's mind that it was done. He was so in tune with what he knew of God that he set out to carry out the task secure in the knowledge that even though he would sacrifice Isaac, God would still fulfill his promises. Sometimes we look to this story and see Abraham as being a shaky optimist, that all the way along the path, was believing that God would somehow not have him sacrifice Isaac, that somehow Isaac would be spared, because there was no other way God's promises could be fulfilled without him, and at the last minute, provided a replacement or a way out from killing Isaac. Well we do know that God did just that by providing the Ram stuck in the thicket and commanded Abraham to use it instead, however was it Abraham's commitment to the process that God rewarded or was it  his obedience that existed from the instant he was asked, I submit it to be latter. From beginning to the end of this incredible story we see a glimpse of a man called from humble beginnings to a man who knew God's voice, listened to his calling and carried out God's tasks in his heart and feet to God's glory. What a testimony. Abraham had his failings as do we all, but this example shows us how important it is to be close enough to God to hear that still, small voice, and when we hear it to say, Here I am...and to go and do with all of our hearts and mind whatever he asks of us. It will not always be easy, and he does not always provide the ram in the thicket, but as long as we are in tune to him we are on the right path. How do you answer God? Are you close enough to hear the whisper of his voice into your soul?