Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.' ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak; for your servant hears.' 1 Samuel 3:8-10 WEB

Samuel was a young boy, lying down in his bed, when God called his name. He got up and ran to his elder, Eli. Waking the man, Samuel said, 'Here I am' for he thought it was Eli who had called him. The Lord called to Samuel three times. Each time, he did the same thing, waking Eli with "Here I am".

Eli, after being disturbed for the third time, told Samuel to go lie back down. He instructed the boy to say: 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.', if He called again. Samuel did so, and the Lord told him many things that were soon going to change in Israel.

Samuel thought that the voice of the Lord was that of Eli, his mentor. In my own life I have often found that the Lord will speak to me through a familiar voice. It may be something that a mentor or a pastor once said to me, a teaching, or a song that comes back to my remembrance. It is sometimes easy to miss that it is actually the Lord speaking until things start to change. You may feel that you are just remembering something. When looking back, it was easy to see that it was indeed Him.

'But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.' (John 14:26).

When going about your day, be sensitive to the Spirit and listen for that small 'familiar' voice. We have all heard it, but most do not recognize Him. That voice that is nudging you to do the right thing, that is the one. It just may be that the Lord wants to tell you some things, and a timely word from the Holy Spirit changes everything.

Prayer: Father, speak to me in a way that I understand and teach to know when it is You. I really want to know Your voice and to follow You closer. I want to walk with You, and talk with You today. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.