How to Hear God’s Voice
The young boy Samuel sleepily awoke to the sound of his name. He was lying in the temple of God, near the ark of the covenant, when the Lord spoke to him. Was Samuel even aware of where he was or what he had done?
His mother had prayed for him long before he had come into existence. Hannah yearned for a child. She cried out to the Lord, as her heart was already filled with love for the child with whom she had never met. Yet Hannah’s tears and prayers flowed freely as she cried at the temple that day, pouring out her heart before her beloved Maker. Hannah made a vow to the Lord that if she was granted a child, she would give him back to God.
When God answered her prayers, Hannah kept her word. She brought him back to the temple where she had prayed so fiercely for her baby boy and let him go in order to be trained in the priestly service for God.
Now, the little boy was found dwelling in the place where the law of God resides. And he awakens to a noise, someone calling out his name. At first, believing it was Eli, the priest under which he was being trained, Samuel rushed out and inquired what he wanted.
But it was not Eli.
This occurred three more times when Eli finally realized it was the Lord speaking to Samuel. So he encouraged the boy to inquire as to what the Lord wanted.
Samuel went back to his resting place. Being obedient to Eli, he responded when the Lord called to him again. Scripture reads:
“And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (1 Sam. 3:10).
Is there anything more heartwarming than a little one who has a desire to hear from God?
Have you ever wanted to hear from God so clearly?
There are times when I want to hear from God. When I long to be as close to my Heavenly Father and know what it is, He is truly speaking to me.
Though not always audibly as Samuel experienced, there exists a communion with God into which believers are invited into, in which they can know the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We can communicate with the living God.
I was encouraged by what this story reveals and its significance in learning to listen to God. These lessons are worth meditating on, as we can take heed from the child who heard the voice of the Lord and went on to live a life of obedience in total surrender. The first is as follows:
If we want to hear from God, we must place ourselves in a position to listen.
Samuel dwelt in the temple, near the Law of the Lord. He was quietly residing in the presence of His Heavenly Father.
Was he aware of how striking his location was? He was near the very thing that was dear to God’s heart. The law was given to humanity for the purpose of revealing their true state. It was part of the process of drawing the people close to God Himself, recognizing their own brokenness and their need for a Saviour. It is described as a blessing, a gift to the people (Psalm 119:7).
How often do we say we want to hear from God yet are hesitant to place ourselves in a place to actually hear from Him?
Maybe we’re busy trying to juggle everything that has been placed on our plate. Or perhaps we’re scared to spend time with the Lord.
Maybe there is something you are avoiding, something you feel you have to clean up on your own before you go to your Heavenly Father. Or perhaps you’re so busy trying to find answers to some of life’s perplexing questions that your time with God resembles more of a one-way conversation in which you’re doing all of the talking.
This applies to any relationship. If we want the relationship to develop, if we truly desire to hear the other person, we must be willing to listen.
Likewise, it will be difficult to hear from the Lord if we do not take the time to spend with Him or if we are not open to hearing from Him. We must still our hearts and quiet our minds before our Heavenly Father.
The truth is that as a child of God, you are made to rest in the presence of your Father. And to open up your heart to hear His voice. He is not hiding from you and longs to touch the areas of your life you may be scared to bring to Him.
Do we truly want to hear what God wants to say?
This is a question worth reflecting on. Sometimes, it may be difficult for us to truly quiet our hearts and mind, our desires and wants, and truly bring them before God. Not because we don’t desire to be close to Him. But have you ever been frightened by what He might tell you?
If we are listening for the Lord of heaven to speak to us, we ought to be ready to do what He says. We must place ourselves in a position of complete surrender.
This may often be scary. It’s not that we doubt He is good. But sometimes, His plans are different than what we expect. There is refining. There is pruning along the way. There are times when things are difficult. Harder than we ever imagined.
But it is in those times that faith is truly built. Where trust is fortified. Where God develops us, as His loving children, into the people, we are truly meant to be.
Scripture declares:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)
This does not mean that bad things won’t happen. It simply means that He will use it for His glory and our good. He has not given up on us.
His light will always cover darkness. We are not strong enough to defeat it on our own strength. Simply put, you were never made to.
So what does it look like to put ourselves in a position to hear from God, practically?
To spend time with the Father in prayer. To be in solitude and take a few minutes to sit in silence. Even if you have to put it on a timer on your phone, it is a discipline worth pursuing. Reading the Bible as well will teach you how to hear God’s voice. The Word is powerful, alive, and active (Heb. 4:12). The Spirit uses it to speak to our hearts and minds, guiding us in truth.
It takes patience and time. Nevertheless, the Lord promises that His children will hear His voice (John 10:27). Don’t be scared to learn how to discern God’s voice. God can speak through wise counsel, but He doesn’t want to forsake the beauty of having His beloved child learn to hear His voice.
I pray that as you go about your day, you will rest knowing that God wants to speak to you. He desires for you to still your heart and quietly come into His presence, just like Samuel did.
Blessings,
A prayer found in the Pursuit of God, written by A.W. Tozer:
“Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, “Speak, for thy servant heareth.” Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of the earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice. Amen.”[1]
[1] A. W Tozer, and James L. Snyder. The Essential Tozer Collection. Bethany House, 2017. 78.