“As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.”
Oswald Chambers
Read and ponder 1 Samuel 3:1-10. Here are nine truths that I glean from this passage.
Hearing God’s voice is normal for believers. God speaks as we go about our days. Samuel wasn’t intentionally trying to hear God’s voice; he was preparing for sleep when the Holy Spirit interrupted and called his name.
When God speaks, it’s personal. He calls us by name. God called Samuel by his name. The words God speaks demonstrate that He knows us, and they speak of our identity.
God is always speaking; we are not always aware or recognize that it is His voice we are hearing. In these verses, God was clearly speaking; Samuel did not recognize it was God’s voice and mistaken it for Eli’s. Ask God to increase your awareness of His voice. We hear God’s voice more than we realize.
God’s voice beckons us to listen and respond in obedience. We listen with the intent to obey. God speaks when He knows we’re willing to listen and be obedient.
The thoughts in our minds are often God’s voice speaking to us. Don’t discount what you hear in your mind; pay attention and discern if God is speaking to you.
God wants us to know about Him through His Word and to experience Him by hearing His voice. I love reading the Word of God, but as I encountered God through hearing His voice, my intimacy with Him grew exponentially.
God can be repetitive till we become aware that it’s Him speaking to us. Like someone tapping on our shoulder or waving their arms in front of us to get our attention, God keeps calling our name till we realize it’s Him and we respond in obedience.
When our soul is quiet and undistracted, we hear God speak. Samuel laid back down and the Lord spoke a fourth time. Be still and create space for God to speak to you.
We respond to God’s voice in four ways. Acknowledge His Lordship. (“Speak, Lord.”) Give God permission to speak into your life. Let God know you’re listening. (“Your servant is listening.”) Take the position of a humble servant and obey what He’s asking you to do. Expect Him to speak and be ready to hear His voice. (“Here I am.”)
The more our ears are trained to hear God’s voice, the more often we’ll hear it, even when we least expect it. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
“God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand.”
Oswald Chambers
Relevant Reflection:
What other truths do you learn from 1 Samuel 3:1-10?
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