The Journey Continues: Listening to God

 

"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'” - 1st Samuel 3:10 NIV

A few months ago, I published a post on the Thoroughly Equipped Facebook page about my desire to actively listen to the Voice of God. In that post, I referenced a time in my life some 35 years ago. Back then, I would come home from work, sit in the stillness and darkness, and listen to music through headphones. I wanted that same deep, immersive experience applied to listening for God's voice.

Shortly after posting that, I realized I was wrong—at least for myself, and perhaps for others too.

When we sit and expect God to speak to us, waiting sometimes impatiently, He is most likely going to keep quiet. My error was that even though I wrote about wanting to actively listen for God's Voice, my approach was actually passive. I wanted to sit still, just like I used to with my headphones on, waiting for God to speak to me. I wasn't taking an active role in welcoming His Voice or inviting Him into the space.

I realize now that God does speak to us — through His Word, through prayer, and through the quiet moments when we meditate on scripture and pause to be still. This is what true "active" listening looks like.

Now, when I read scripture, a verse might suddenly touch me. It might make me take a deep breath and think, “Wow!” It might make me stop reading entirely just to stare blankly into the air because I realize God just spoke to me directly from His Word.

Of course, this is a purely unique and subjective approach. There are many who spend time in absolute quiet, receptive to God's Voice, and they are deeply blessed when He whispers to them—just as He whispered to the boy Samuel. But remember, that boy, mentored by the old priest Eli, was specifically told to invite God to speak. It is within that very invitation that God answers us.

Soli Deo Gloria