Fast 2026 - Day 8

 Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.
John 10:271 Samuel 3:10

There are many ways the Lord can speak to us but the two main ways are through the Scriptures and through the inward voice of the Holy Spirit.  It is an inward voice because that is where He dwells—on the inside of us—and when He speaks to us it comes through “thoughts or impressions.”  The more we are led by the Holy Spirit and learn to listen to Him, the easier it becomes to recognize those “thoughts” as the Holy Spirit’s voice.  The more time we spend with someone the better we know them and the more familiar we are with the sound of their voice.

Take a moment and read the first three chapters of 1 Samuel. Samuel was young and he was being mentored and raised up to serve as a priest by the high priest, Eli.  In chapter 3 we read of the first time Samuel heard the voice of the Lord.  One night, while he was resting in his bed, the Lord called his name. He thought it was Eli calling him for He didn’t recognize the Lord’s voice yet.  He got up and went to Eli and asked what he wanted.  Eli, knowing that he didn’t call the boy, instructed him to go back and lay down, and when he heard the voice again, he was to respond with “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”  
In the quiet stillness while he laid on his bed—Samuel heard.  We read in the first few verses of chapter 3 that Samuel was already attending to the service of the Lord under Eli’s leadership.  He was already learning to do the work of the ministry, but now it was time for the next part of his ministry training—to hear the voice of the Lord and listen to what He was saying.  Notice that God spoke to him when he was resting—not working. It is always easier to hear when we are still and quiet.  Doing the work that God has given us to do is important but it is also important that we make time daily to be still—to quiet our thoughts and give God our full attention.  

In the gospels we see that Jesus often withdrew from others and went off by Himself to pray; usually in the early morning or late evening.  We follow His example—as He did, so do we.  There is a time for work and there is a time to be still before Lord.  When we intentionally listen to hear His voice we will receive His wisdom, strength, joy and power to do what He wants us to do.    

Father, thank You for giving us ears to hear and know Your voice.  Today we come boldly to Your throne asking You to speak to us; we are listening to hear what You say.  May Your voice be clear and every other voice be silenced.  Lead us by Your Spirit into all truth and show us the direction we need to go today.  Empower us with Your strength to accomplish Your will in every place You send us!  In Jesus Name, Amen!