FEAST: 30 Days of Real Truth for Real LifeSample

Day 21: Samuel—Calling

Snack

1. God still speaks, and He calls us by name.
2. Our calling is discovered through listening and responding.
3. Saying "Here I am" can open the way to a life of purpose.

Appetiser

Have you ever wondered if God was speaking to you, but weren’t sure how to recognise His voice?

Main Course

In Samuel’s day, “the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions” (1 Samuel 3:1 NIV). Yet in the quiet of the night, God broke the silence by calling a young boy by name.

At first Samuel did not recognise the voice. He ran to Eli three times, thinking it was his mentor who had called him. It was only when Eli discerned what was happening that Samuel learned to say,“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9 NIV). Samuel’s willingness to listen opened the door to his calling.

From that night on, Samuel grew to be a prophet who faithfully delivered God’s word. Scripture tells us,“The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19 NIV). His calling began with simple responsiveness in the small hours of the night.

God still speaks today. His voice may not always come audibly, but He speaks through His word, through the prompting of the Spirit, and through wise counsel. Like Samuel, we often need guidance to recognise it, but the call remains personal and persistent.

The prophet Jeremiah also experienced God’s personal call:“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV). God’s calling is not random—it is rooted in His eternal purpose for us.

Jesus echoed this truth when He described Himself as the Good Shepherd:“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:3-4 NIV).

Your calling may not look like Samuel’s, but it begins the same way—by listening and responding.God calls each of us to know Him, to walk with Him, and to serve Him in the unique ways He has designed.

When you hear Him speak, even faintly, may your response be Samuel’s: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”