1 Samuel 3:1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle[a] near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” 7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.

Samuel lived in a time when hearing the voice of God was a rare occasion experienced only by a few choice servants of God. We see that the voice of God came to this young servant, Samuel. Samuel was so unsuspecting that he did not recognize the voice of God. Before you get down on the young prophet, realize that I believe we suffer from the same condition today. We are unaware of the fact that God’s voice is speaking to us continually. He does not speak to you because of your qualification, but because of the great things He wants to do in your life. We must become experts at hearing the voice of God in order to experience the life He desires us to obtain.

Here are few ways you can become an expert at hearing the voice of God:

1. Create margin to hear the voice of God.


Samuel heard the voice of God while he was sleeping. It is difficult to hear the still small voice of God amiss the hustle and bustle of the busy lives most people live. Many believers never hear the voice of God because His voice is drowned out by the multitude of other voices bombarding their lives. Create a place and a time to daily listen to God speak to your heart.

2. Train yourself to recognize the voice of God.

Samuel required some on-the-job training to recognize the voice of God speaking. Samuel went to the source of God’s word to discern this voice He was hearing. We can take the same advice. We must go to the source of what God has already said to interpret and recognize what God is saying today. Go to God’s word and dive into scripture. As you become familiar with what God has already said, it will be increasingly easy to recognize His voice today.

3. Respond to the voice of God.

God always speaks for a response. God speaks information and He speaks inspiration. God speaks of things in the present, past, and future. However, everything God speaks has an intended work in your life. When you respond to the current word God is speaking to your life it opens the door for Him to speak more and more to you.

Today’s Challenge: Realize that God desires to speak to you. Not because you are an expert in some field, but because He is a good Father. Take a step today to invite the voice of God into your life.