Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. And it will be, if He calls you, that you will say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant listens' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place (1 Sam. 3:9 MEV).

Has God been trying to get your attention lately? Is God trying to tell you something? Are you having a hard time hearing?

Samuel was in training to be a prophet. He was set apart from birth to be God's anointed one. God had something to tell Samuel, but Samuel couldn't recognize the voice of God.

Eli told Samuel to lie down and simply say, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

You and I live in an often crowded and busy world. There are lots of "voices." I can't remember the last time I had a day with nothing to do. My home is quieter than it once was when two boys kept the hallway filled with the sounds of football, basketball and any other sport Mom would let them get away with in the house, but there's still plenty of noise and activity. My calendar is fuller than ever.

Often, I find myself surrounded by the "stuff" of life. The idea of hearing from God in the midst of all this clutter seems nearly impossible. Yet, I know my very existence hangs on my God-relationship. I need a word from my Father!

How About You?

Perhaps you too would love to hear from God, but your life is too thick for His word to filter through.

I love the advice of Samuel's mentor, Eli. I believe his instructions could be helpful for us.

Here are 3 ways Eli encouraged Samuel to hear from God:

1. He told Samuel to be still. Samuel laid down, in the stillness of the night, and waited for God to speak. Many times we can't hear from God because we are—frankly—too busy. God tends to speak with a quiet whisper to listening, trusting ears. "Let them who have ears hear," Jesus might say.

Consider your past week. When would you have had time to hear from God had He tried to speak to you in a whisper?

3. He encouraged Samuel to listen expectantly. Samuel left Eli knowing he was waiting—and he knew Whom he was waiting for. He wasn't surprised when God spoke, because he was anxiously awaiting His voice. I think many times we would be surprised should God choose to speak. We almost don't expect Him to anymore.

Ask yourself, have you given up your belief God can, should He choose, answer your request? Are you praying in faith? 

3. Perhaps most important, Eli mentored Samuel to obey God's word. It is one thing to hear from God, and quite another to do something about it. When God speaks to you—this is a monumental event! It is important to obey. I often wonder if God speaks most to those He knows will do as He asks.

Be honest, are you living in obedience to God today—as much as you know how? Should God ask you to do something contrary to what you want to do, are you in a season where you would obey?

God may be trying to speak to you at this point in your life. In fact, if you are a believer, I'd be surprised if He's not. My question for you: Are you in a position to hear?

Stop, wait, listen—and obey the word of God today!

Ron Edmondson is the senior pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. For the original article, visit ronedmondson.com.

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