When I was a child, my favorite Bible story was about the prophet Samuel. As a young boy, he heard God calling his name when he lay down to sleep. At first he thought it was Eli, the priest of the temple where he lived and was in service to God, and went to see what he wanted. But Eli realized it was God calling the child and advised Samuel to respond, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth” (I Samuel 3:9). 

So Samuel went back to bed, and the next time he heard God call him, he answered as Eli had directed. Then and for many years to come, God revealed to Samuel knowledge that benefited and led the children of Israel.

One lesson we can take away from this story is that hearing God’s voice begins with a humble, childlike willingness to listen. We are all children of God, created to reflect the divine intelligence, and each of us has the capacity to be quiet and receptive in order to listen to God and hear the divine guidance that we need.