16 March | Teens
«Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”» 1 Samuel 3:10
In the Bible, we see in several verses that children are very important to God! One of the stories that portrays this is that of a boy named Samuel. Samuel was a little boy who was taken to the church of his day at an early age. When he was very young, he heard God’s voice. He was lying down, and God called him by his name: “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel ran three times to the priest Eli’s room, thinking that he was the one who was calling him, until they understood that this was the voice of God. When Samuel heard God calling for the fourth time, he answered, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears!”
This story is an incredible reminder that God speaks to everyone, no matter their age. God wants to speak to us; the problem is that sometimes we can be so distracted by other things that we do not listen to Him. God can speak in many ways: through the Bible, through nature, through our parents and teachers, or even in our thoughts and prayers. The important thing is to be attentive and ready to listen. Like Samuel, we need to stop and listen when God calls us. After all, God never ceases to call us. The challenge is to be willing to listen, acknowledge His voice, and respond, just as Samuel did, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”
Take Action
Choose a quiet time of day to be quiet and listen. It can be in your bedroom, in the garden, or anywhere quiet. During this time, try not to think about anything else, just listen. This time of listening is a way to practice being attentive to when God speaks to you.