Want to hear from God? Here’s how.

I believe everyone can hear or experience God.  In last week’s blog, I encouraged you to share those stories.  Later in the week, in my Facebook Group, I video requested you to share your stories.  I was delighted to hear from you.  But, if you’ve never experienced or heard from God, you might be thinking that you don’t have a story to share.  I want to share a story with you in hopes of encouraging you to press into God.

In 1 Samuel Chapter 3:1-11, we are told a story about the first time Samuel heard from God.  Young Samuel was studying under Eli.  He slept near the Ark of God, which was about as close as you could get to God back then.  During this time, it was rare to hear from God and there were very few visions.  Yet Eli, who was teaching Samuel, knew God.  Samuel had not yet had his own experience with God.  However, by proximity of where he slept, we know he was eager to hear from God.  Lesson one, be eager to hear from God.  

As they slept, The Lord called to Samuel. Samuel, hearing the voice, got up and ran to Eli, thinking it was Eli who was calling him.  Eli told him it was not him and to go lay back down.  Three times the Lord called Samuel and three times Samuel did not recognize his voice but went to Eli instead.  Lesson two, learn to recognize the voice of the Lord.

Eli. who understood it was the Lord calling, instructed Samuel to go lay back down and the next time say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”   Lesson three, find a mentor/friend/coach who hears the voice of the Lord and learn from them.

Lesson four, go back and ask the Lord to speak to you and then listen.

I want to be Eli for you.  I don’t say this lightly.  I think the Lord has been speaking into your life for quite sometime but maybe you haven’t recognized it to be God’s voice.  Or maybe like Samuel, you haven’t heard it before.  So how would you recognize the voice of the Lord if you had never heard it.  I want to encourage you to find a friend who hears from God and learn from them.  Someone you can be honest with about your relationship with God and others.  Someone you can share your experiences with.  Someone who will encourage you and be honest with you.  Someone you can grow with.  Someone who will say to you, “Hey, that was God and you need to go back and say ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening.'”

When the Lord called to Samuel the fourth time, he was ready, eager to hear from God.  Do you know what happened?  God spoke to him.  Verse 11 says, “And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.”  I want your ears to tingle.  I want you to recognize that the Almighty has just whispered your name.   The great thing is God is always calling us.  HE always has been.  It took Samuel three times.  But by the fourth time, he recognized and he listened.

God has been speaking to me for years. I do not say this to boast.  I say this to show you, just like God speaks to me, God can speak to you.  I am confident of it.  When God speaks into our lives, our whole world changes.  “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”   

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me for all the times I did not recognize your voice.  Help me to recognize your voice.  Help me to listen.  Thank you for continuing to speak into my life even when I was unaware of it.  Make my ears tingle with the words you share with me.  In Jesus name, Amen. -M