Ready to Listen

" Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. " - 1 Samuel 3:9

Hello Reader,

Welcome to my newsletter!

Once a week, we explore a great piece of Scripture and discuss how to apply it to our lives.

The outcome? We Get Closer To God.

This week is honestly one of my favorite verses in the Bible.

According to the story, when the young prophet Samuel had not yet fully come to know God, He spoke to him.

Many people wish to directly converse with God so they can hear His voice clearly, like Samuel did. However, since they haven't had this experience, they often doubt God's love and purpose for their lives.

However, the reality is that God communicates with us in unexpected ways.

When you quiet your mind and give faith and trust the space they need, God can speak to you through thoughts, ideas, and intentions.

A Little History...

The Books of Samuel (1 & 2 Samuel) are traditionally attributed to the prophet Samuel, with later contributions from Nathan and Gad.

The events of 1 Samuel occurred around 1100 B.C., during a spiritually dark time in Israel’s history, and were experiencing moral and spiritual decline, and leadership, both politically and religiously, was weak and corrupt.

Samuel was a young boy serving in the tabernacle under the high priest Eli. He was dedicated to the Lord by his mother, Hannah, after God miraculously answered her prayer for a child.

At this point, “the word of the Lord was rare,” meaning prophetic visions and divine communication were uncommon.

God begins to call Samuel, but Samuel thinks it’s Eli. After three calls, Eli realizes what’s happening and instructs Samuel to respond to the voice with the words "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."

How to Apply It To Your Life...

Cultivate a Listening Heart

Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice at first, but he was willing to listen and learn. In our own lives, we need to slow down, remove distractions, and create space to hear God speak through His Word, prayer, and wise counsel.

Application: Begin your quiet time with this simple prayer:
​“Speak, Lord. I’m listening.”

Be Willing to Respond

Samuel said he was listening—but he was also ready to obey. Listening to God means being open to act on what He says, even if it’s unfamiliar or challenging.

Application: Ask yourself, “What is God asking me to do?”—and take the next faithful step.

Seek Spiritual Guidance

Just as Eli helped Samuel recognize God’s voice, we all need mentors, pastors, or trusted believers to help us grow in discernment.

Application: Connect with someone spiritually mature who can help you understand how God may be speaking in your life.

Let's Pray Together...

Dear God,

I long to hear Your voice—not always through audible words, but through the quiet guidance You place in my thoughts, choices, and direction. Help me clear away the noise and distractions that this world constantly throws at me.

My soul is waiting, listening for You in the stillness. I want to follow wherever You lead and live out the purpose You’ve designed for my life.

So many lose hope, thinking You’re silent—but I believe that when my heart is still and I come to You in sincere prayer, You are speaking. Through Your Spirit, You are moving in ways I cannot always see, and I trust You to do wonders within me.

Amen.

Let's Put It All Together...

We need to be open to God to speak to us.

Remember that God's ways are not our ways.

His method of communicating with us can extend far beyond the spoken, audible word.

I often reflect on this experience:

There was a time not long ago when I was distraught and confused about my life's direction.

I prayed and suddenly received an idea—perhaps you could call it a notion—to attend a church service I had never been to before.

It came out of the blue.

While I was there, the sermon spoke directly to me and transformed my entire outlook on life. My prayer was heard; God spoke to me.

The key is not merely waiting for God to speak, but being receptive to His messages for you.

I've often said, the Bible is an incredible way God opens the door to communicate with us, every day!

We just have to be ready to be receptive and say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."

Thank you for being here today. I hope that through patience and prayer, He speaks to you.

Please reach out and share this message with someone who needs to hear it.

I'm praying for you, please pray for me.

Have a blessed day out there,

Quentin