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Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; for you called me." 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.

It was dark in the Tabernacle except for the flickering light of the lamp of God, which burned from evening to morning. The young boy Samuel was lying on his bed when God suddenly called him by name. He got up and ran to his mentor, Eli, the high priest, who was sleeping down the hall.

Samuel woke him up and said, "Here I am!" Samuel thought it was Eli who had called him. Eli told him that he did not call him and to lie back down. The Lord called to Samuel three times like that. Each time, Samuel thought it was Eli calling and ran to him with, "Here I am."

After Samuel woke him up for the third time, Eli realized it was the Lord calling him. So he told Samuel to lie back down and, if he heard the voice again, say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Samuel did as Eli instructed, and the Lord told him many things that would soon change in Israel. Something important to note about this story is that Samuel thought the voice of the Lord, the One he heard speaking to him, was that of Eli, his mentor.

I have often found that the Lord will speak to me through a familiar voice like that in my own life. It may be something that a mentor or a pastor once told me. A certain teaching or song may come to my mind at just the right time. It can seem so natural that it's easy to miss, and we may not even recognize that the Lord is speaking to us until things start to change. You may feel that you just remember something. Yet later, it is easy to see it was Him guiding us all along.

"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 don't recognize Him. The voice nudging you to do the right thing is the one. It just may be that the Lord wants to tell you something, 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 and talk with You today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.