Week: How to Hear God
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Father God, we’re listening. We look forward to what You want to say to us today, through the Bible, through other people, through what we see and hear around us, even through our hearts. Help us to hear You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Ruby
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIVUK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Samuel was around 11 years old and he was training to be a priest under the High Priest Eli. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened when Samuel heard a voice calling his name.
Read by Ruby
1 Samuel 3:8-10
The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘I am here. You called me.’ Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. So he told Samuel, ‘Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in bed. The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’
1 Samuel 3:8-10 (NCV)
Each time Samuel heard his name being called, he assumed it was Eli, so Samuel went to see what he wanted. But Samuel was actually hearing God’s voice – he just didn’t know that it was God speaking. Eli soon realised what was happening though. Eli had heard God speak before and so he could help Samuel recognise God’s voice. Eli told Samuel to do three things… wait, listen and respond.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What different ways can we imagine God speaking? What do we think God’s voice might sound like?
And now let’s ask God to help us and others.
Father God, thank You that You want to talk to us just like You did with Samuel. We ASK You to help us to be patient and wait, to listen for Your voice, and then to respond to it.
Let’s think about the church leaders, the friends that we know and the parents who, just like Eli, are helping people to recognise God’s voice.
Holy Spirit, please strengthen them and encourage them. Give them grace to help us and others to hear your voice.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
1 Samuel 3:8-10
The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘I am here. You called me.’ Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. So he told Samuel, ‘Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in bed. The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’
1 Samuel 3:8-10 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we want to hear You speaking to us. We say YES to responding to Your voice, like Samuel did. Speak, Lord. We are Your servants, and we are listening.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIVUK)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
To find out more about Pete Greig’s book go to https://www.24-7prayer.com/how-to-hear-god/
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Ruby is 12 and she lives in Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland with her family. Ruby is a gymnast who never sits still! She loves dogs (but her mum won’t get her one), she loves her friends and she’s always up for a laugh. Ruby would love to work with animals when she’s older.
