God is speaking to His people. His voice is not distant or silent; He longs to guide, to instruct, and to pour out His plans for your life. Yet, the question remains: are you listening? Are you ready to respond when He calls, as in the Scripture, “Speak Lord for Your Servant is Listening”? Throughout Scripture, we see men and women who heard the voice of God, responded with faith, and were forever changed. But listening to God is not passive. It is an active pursuit that requires humility, persistence, and surrender.
When Samuel heard the voice of the Lord as a young boy, his reply was simple but profound: “Speak, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NASB). His heart was positioned to hear and obey. Isaiah, standing before the throne of God, declared boldly, “Here am I. Send me!”(Isaiah 6:8 NASB). These responses were not only acts of faith but acts of surrender—offering themselves wholly to God’s purposes.
The same God who spoke to Samuel and Isaiah speaks today. The question is not whether God speaks, but whether we are willing to quiet our hearts, press into His presence, and listen.
The Call to Persevere in Listening
There are times when hearing God requires persistence. We see this in Daniel, who prayed and fasted for three weeks before an angel appeared to him with the answer he sought. The angel explained: “From the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard… but the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days” (Daniel 10:12-13 NASB).
Daniel’s story reminds us that spiritual resistance is real. When you ask God for guidance, the answer may not come immediately. But do not lose heart! Keep seeking, keep asking, and keep knocking (Matthew 7:7 NASB). Your persistence demonstrates faith and trust in God’s perfect timing. God hears you the moment you pray, and His answer will come at the appointed time.
Hearing and Responding to God’s Voice
Hearing the voice of God today may not always look like a burning bush or an audible call from heaven, but He is still speaking to His people in personal, profound, and powerful ways. God communicates through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances, but hearing Him requires intentionality on our part.
1. Through His Word
The primary way God speaks is through the Bible. As we read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit brings passages to life, applying them to our specific situations. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that “the Word of God is living and active” (NASB). To hear Him clearly, prioritize time in His Word daily. Ask Him to reveal Himself through the pages of Scripture, and listen with a heart ready to obey.
2. Through the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit lives within believers, guiding, convicting, and encouraging us. When you pray, quiet your heart to sense His direction. It may come as a gentle nudge, a persistent thought, or peace about a decision. Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26 NASB). Be sensitive to His prompting, and when He speaks, act in faith.
3. Through Prayer and Stillness
In a world full of noise and distractions, it’s easy to miss God’s voice. But when you intentionally set aside time for prayer and stillness, you create space for Him to speak. Elijah didn’t hear God in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12 NASB). Turn off the distractions, quiet your mind, and simply ask, “Speak, Lord.” Then, wait for Him in the stillness.
4. Through Circumstances and Others
Sometimes God speaks through the circumstances in our lives or through wise counsel from others. Pay attention to how He might be orchestrating events to guide you or opening and closing doors to direct your steps. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (NASB). Seek counsel from mature believers and remain open to how God may confirm His Word through them.
The Call to Respond in Faith
Listening to God is only the beginning. The true test comes when you hear His voice—when He calls you to step out in faith, to let go of fear, or to trust Him in uncertainty. Consider Noah, who obeyed God’s instructions to build an ark even when the world had never seen rain. Or Mary, who surrendered to God’s plan to bear the Messiah despite the cost to her reputation. Or the disciples, who left everything at Yeshua’s call to “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19 NASB).
Each of these individuals not only heard God’s voice but responded with trust. They didn’t hesitate, delay, or make excuses. Their obedience brought them into alignment with God’s purposes and allowed them to experience His power in ways that changed history. God is calling you, too. Will you respond as they did—with faith, surrender, and obedience?
An Entreaty to the Reader
Beloved, this is your moment to press in. God is calling you to deeper intimacy, greater faith, and unwavering trust in Him. Quiet your heart, remove distractions, and ask Him to speak. Then, listen. He may whisper to your spirit, illuminate His Word, or nudge your heart through circumstances. However He chooses to speak, remain persistent in prayer. Some answers take time because of spiritual resistance, but do not let that discourage you. Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep believing.
And when He speaks, respond. Say, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” Say, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” Say yes to His will, even if it requires stepping out in faith, letting go of your plans, or trusting Him in the unknown. The God who created you, who knows the number of hairs on your head, and who has prepared good works for you in advance (Ephesians 2:10 NASB) is calling you to a deeper walk with Him. Will you listen? Will you respond?
A Closing Prayer
Father, we come before You with hearts open and ready to hear Your voice. Teach us to be still, to quiet the noise around us, and to press into Your presence. Strengthen our faith so that we may persist in prayer, even when the answers seem delayed. Lord, when You speak, give us the courage to respond with obedience and trust, just as Samuel, Isaiah, Mary, and others did before us. Let our hearts echo their words: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Use us for Your glory, and lead us into a deeper relationship with You. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.
