Your Servant Is Listening

Then the Lord called Samuel.Samuel answered, Here I am. And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me. But Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 1 Samuel 3:4–5, NIV.

Samuel, at this moment, did not know the voice of the Lord, but it is important to note that he had a spirit to listen. Samuel ran to Eli without hesitation because he was submitted to his authority. This story teaches me to have a willing-spirit and a servants-heart.

It all began with “Here I am.”

The voice of the Lord continued to call out to Samuel in the night, but it wasn’t until the forth time when Samuel could differentiate the voice of Eli, from the voice of the LORD.

1 Samuel 3:10 explains, “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

How Can I Hear God’s Voice?

Many people ask, “How can I hear the voice of the Lord?” Well, it may be that God has been speaking to you, but you have not known the tone and cadence of His voice just yet. This takes time.

Repetition is not always a sign of disobedience. Samuel was unlearned and growing in the Lord. He was in the house of the Lord when he heard God’s voice, but it took time for him to realize who was speaking to him.

Many times God is trying to teach us how He speaks. For me personally, God speaks to me when I am surrounded by nature and when I’m sitting quietly after praying. However, you may hate being in the middle of the woods, so it is very possible that God will speak to you in another place and in another way.

Repetition in a written narrative is a literary device to emphasize a certain point or to help a reader remember a key lesson. In the story of Samuel we can learn that God is patient when He is trying to teach us how to test and prove His will. It is also important to focus on Samuel’s willingness to answer the call by saying, “Here I am.”

Today, maybe you desire to learn how to hear the voice of the Lord. If that is your aspiration, then pray, “Here I am. Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Prayer: Lord, I desire to be a willing vessel. I do not want to make decisions without Your direction in my life and I pray that you would help me hear Your voice. I know that You are speaking to me, but there is so much noise around me that can be a distraction. Lord, here I am, use me for Your service.