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 just a young boy laying on 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 that it was Eli who had called him. The Lord called to Samuel three times. Each time, Samuel did the same thing, waking Eli up 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 as Eli instructed, and the Lord told him many things that were soon going to change in Israel. Something important to note about this, is that Samuel thought that the voice of the Lord that he heard speaking, 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 at the right time. It can be easy to miss, and we may not recognize that it is the Lord speaking to us, until things start to change. You may feel that you are just remembering something. Later when looking back, it is 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).

During your day, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and listen for that small 'familiar' voice. We have all heard it, but most of us 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: Heavenly Father please speak to me in a way that I understand and teach me 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.

Note: Ladies, if you would like to participate, Thursdays at our "Ladies in Distress" group is "Thankful Thursday"! You are invited to join in and share with the group about how God has blessed you! Here is the link Ladies in Distress

> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <