1 Samuel 3:9-10 So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed. Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m Your servant, ready to listen.”

Hannah took Samuel to the temple when he was only three years old. She had promised that she would do it if the Lord gave her a son.

He was still small when he fell asleep one night in the Holy of Holies. He woke up when someone called him. He thought it was the old priest Eli, who needed him to walk with him. But Eli said it wasn’t him.

After the third time, Eli realised that it was the Lord who wanted to speak to Samuel. He explained it to him nicely and said that if he heard a call again, he should respond in a specific way, because it was God who wanted to speak to him.

God had not spoken for a long time, and that was why Samuel didn’t recognise God’s voice.

Similarly, we can’t tell people’s voices apart if we don’t know them and haven’t heard them speak. I recognise my wife’s voice immediately. I can also tell where the conversation is going, just by listening to her tone of voice. Sometimes I know when not to pick up the gloves and instead go into defensive or apology mode, just because I know her voice.

Many times, people ask me how one hears God’s voice, and yes, in a world that’s so noisy, one does not easily hear God’s voice. If you’ve never heard Him speak, how are you supposed to recognise His voice now?

That is why it is so vital to constantly walk in His Word. And pay close attention to that phrase: His Word. These are the very words through which He still speaks to you today. When you consistently walk in them, you begin to truly ‘hear’ His voice.

Then, when He shows up and wants to say something that is not contradictory to His Word, you will recognise Him speaking to you, because within a relationship you know when the other person is speaking and what their words sound like.

Prayer
Father, I would like to talk to You. I want to hear You. That’s my heart’s desire. Help me to walk close to You, so that I can hear when You talk to me …

Questions
Do I make enough time to hear God’s voice?
How well do I know God’s Word and His way of speaking?
Do I really listen when God wants to speak to me?

Do this now
Today, deliberately read a short passage from the Bible, and before you begin, ask, “Lord, what do You want to say to me?”
Put away your phone and noise for five minutes and just be silent before God.
Write down one thing from God’s Word that strikes you today and try to live it practically during your day.