The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'
1 Samuel 3:10
God built you with spiritual ears. Unlike any other creature on earth, you were designed with the remarkable ability to hear and recognize God's voice. Think about that for a moment. The God who spoke galaxies into existence wired you precisely so you could communicate with Him. This isn't just a nice spiritual concept—it's a fundamental truth about how you're made. You don't lack the equipment necessary to hear God; it's part of your spiritual DNA as His child.
Your spiritual hearing improves with practice. Remember when you first tried to ride a bike? You probably wobbled, fell, and needed training wheels. Hearing God works similarly. When you listen to His voice, you might feel uncertain or make mistakes in discerning what He's saying. This is entirely normal! Young Samuel in 1 Samuel 3 needed Eli's help to recognize it was God calling him. Three times God called before Samuel finally understood and responded, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
The world is filled with voices competing for your attention. Daily, you're bombarded by messages from social media, friends, family, advertisers, and your inner thoughts. God doesn't shout to be heard above this noise. Instead, He speaks with consistent clarity that requires intentional listening. Notice how God called Samuel by name—personally and directly. Yet even this clear call was initially misunderstood because Samuel "did not yet know the LORD" (1 Samuel 3:7).
Scripture tunes your ears to God's frequency. Think of the Bible as your hearing aid for God's voice. The more familiar you become with how God has spoken in the past through His Word, the more quickly you'll recognize when He's talking to you in the present. When you hear something and wonder, "Is this God?" your knowledge of Scripture provides the first and most reliable test. His voice never contradicts what He's already said.
God knew you before you knew Him. I find this both humbling and comforting. Before Samuel recognized God's voice, God already knew Samuel and had plans for him. God called Samuel by name before Samuel had ever heard God speak. Your ability to hear Him isn't something you achieve through spiritual exercises—it's something He initiated and enabled because He wanted a relationship with you.
Your spiritual hearing can be damaged or strengthened. In 1964, pianist Arthur Rubinstein amazed audiences with his ability to detect the slightest variation in pitch, even in his 70s. His hearing had been trained through decades of musical practice. Similarly, spiritual hearing can become more sensitive through consistent exposure to God's voice or dull through neglect. Every time you respond like Samuel—"Speak, for your servant is listening"—your hearing ability becomes sharper.
Being known by God precedes genuinely knowing yourself. We often approach life backward, trying to discover ourselves through self-help books, personality tests, or career paths. Yet Samuel's story suggests something profound—that being called by God is the foundation for everything else. Samuel's identity and purpose became clear only after recognizing God's voice. Your ability to hear His voice is connected to your understanding of who you are.
Your capacity to hear God reveals your spiritual privilege. Throughout history, people have longed to hear from God. In Samuel's time, we're told that "the word of the LORD was rare" (1 Samuel 3:1). People traveled to temples, performed elaborate rituals, and sought out prophets—all to hear divine guidance. Yet you have direct access to God's voice. This isn't reserved for spiritual elites or religious professionals but is your birthright as a believer.
What you hear from God will always align with His character. Remember that God's voice consistently points toward truth, justice, and love when sorting through various voices. When God spoke to Samuel, He revealed hard truths that aligned with His holy character. If what you hear promotes fear, condemnation, or hatred, you can be confident it's not coming from God, whose voice always aligns with His nature.
Godseekers, embrace your design as those who can hear God speak. You aren't left to navigate life's complexities alone or by guesswork. The capacity to receive divine guidance isn't something you need to earn or achieve—it's already woven into your spiritual makeup. Today, approach every situation with Samuel's humble posture: "Speak, for your servant is listening." As you practice this listening stance, His voice will become increasingly apparent.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us with the ability to hear Your voice. We're grateful that You speak to us not because we've earned it but because You desire a relationship with us. Jesus, help us become more familiar with the sound of Your voice by spending time in Your Word. Holy Spirit, sharpen our spiritual hearing and help us filter out the competing voices that distract us from what You're saying. Give us Samuel's humble heart to say, "Speak, for your servant is listening." In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- When was the last time you felt confident you heard God's voice, and what characteristics helped you recognize it was Him?
- Which competing voices most often drown out God's voice in your life, and what practical steps can you take to turn down their volume?
Step of Faith
Today, I will begin my prayer time with Samuel's words, "Speak, for your servant is listening," and then spend 10 minutes in quiet reflection, expecting to hear what God might say.
