Day 1: Hearing God's Voice
Devotional
Have you ever wondered if God is speaking to you? Throughout history, God has communicated with His people in various ways. Sometimes His voice comes as a gentle whisper in our hearts, and other times He speaks through the people around us.
In the story of Samuel, we see a young boy who heard God's voice but didn't recognize it at first. It took the wisdom of his mentor Eli to help him understand that God was calling him. This beautiful interaction shows us that discerning God's voice often requires both personal attentiveness and community guidance.
Many of us struggle to recognize God's voice amid the noise of our busy lives. We might hear a persistent thought, feel a tug on our hearts toward a certain action, or notice repeated themes in our conversations and devotional time. These could be ways God is trying to get our attention.
The challenge is learning to distinguish God's voice from our own thoughts or external influences. This is where the church community becomes invaluable. Fellow believers can often see gifts in us that we don't recognize, confirm internal promptings we're experiencing, or guide us toward opportunities that align with how God has shaped us.
Today, consider creating space to listen for God's voice. Start with a few minutes of silence, asking God to speak. Then pay attention to the thoughts, feelings, and desires that arise. Share these with trusted spiritual friends who can help you discern if and how God might be calling you.
Bible Verse
"Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."' So Samuel went and lay down in his place." - 1 Samuel 3:8-9
Reflection Question
When was the last time you felt God might be speaking to you, and how did you respond to that prompting?
Quote
God calls us in various ways throughout our faith journey, much like Samuel in the Bible who experienced both an internal calling (God speaking directly to him) and external confirmation (through Eli's guidance).
Prayer
Lord, open my ears to hear Your voice clearly. Help me to recognize when You are speaking to me, whether directly to my heart or through others in my community. Give me the courage to respond like Samuel, saying, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Amen.
Day 2: The Power of Community Confirmation
Devotional
God rarely calls us to walk alone. When He places a vision or purpose on our hearts, He often confirms it through the community of believers around us.
Think about Samuel's experience. His internal calling—hearing God's voice directly—was powerful, but it was Eli's external confirmation and guidance that helped him understand and respond appropriately. This pattern continues throughout Scripture and in our lives today.
Sometimes we can be stubborn, wanting to figure everything out on our own. We might hear God's call but dismiss it as our imagination, or we might forge ahead with our plans without seeking wisdom from others. Both approaches can lead us astray.
The beauty of being part of the church is having access to the collective wisdom, experience, and discernment of fellow believers. When God is truly calling us toward something, He often confirms it through multiple sources—through Scripture, through circumstances, and through the affirmation of our spiritual community.
This doesn't mean we need unanimous approval for every decision, but it does suggest that we should be humble enough to listen to the voices God has placed around us. Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses others to affirm our calling, redirect our path, or refine our understanding of what God is asking of us.
Today, consider who the "Elis" are in your life—those spiritual mentors and friends who help you discern God's voice and confirm His calling. If you don't have such people, pray that God would bring them into your life.
Bible Verse
"And the LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" - 1 Samuel 3:10
Reflection Question
Who has God used in yo
Quote
I am one of those people that try to do things myself and figure things out myself, and I don't always get the right answer. So in recent years, part of trying to mature is listening to the voices around me and what they're telling me and understanding that maybe it's the Holy Spirit that's prompting them to give me a word of affirmation or confirmation.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of community. Help me to be humble enough to listen when You speak through others. Bring wise mentors into my life who can help me discern Your voice, and make me attentive to their guidance. May I never miss Your calling because of pride or isolation. Amen.
Day 3: United in Diversity
Devotional
The church is a beautiful paradox—we are one body with many parts, united in Christ yet diverse in our expressions of faith. The Nicene Creed describes the church as "one holy, catholic, and apostolic," reminding us that despite our differences, we share a common foundation in Jesus Christ.
Like a room full of different animals, each denomination brings unique strengths, perspectives, and approaches to ministry. Some churches excel at contemplative worship, others at community outreach, and still others at biblical teaching or creative expression. Rather than seeing these differences as divisions, we can celebrate how they enable the gospel to reach more people in ways that resonate with their needs and backgrounds.
God's calling on our lives often aligns with the particular expression of faith we're drawn to. Some feel called to liturgical traditions that connect them to ancient practices, while others thrive in contemporary settings that speak to current cultural contexts. Neither is wrong—they're simply different ways of living out our faith in the one global church of Jesus Christ.
The key is remembering that our primary identity isn't found in our denominational label but in our relationship with Christ and our membership in His universal church. When we maintain this perspective, we can appreciate the richness of our diversity while remaining united in our essential mission to love God and love others.
Today, consider how your particular church tradition shapes your understanding of God's calling, and give thanks for the broader body of Christ that reaches people your tradition might not.
Bible Verse
"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" - 1 Samuel 3:10
Reflection Question
How has your experience with different church traditions or denominations enriched your understanding of God's calling on your life?
Quote
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. We are a single, united, global church with a basis in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the beautiful diversity of Your church. Help me to appreciate different expressions of faith while remaining firmly rooted in You. Use my particular gifts and calling within my church community to reach those who might not be reached otherwise. May we be united in our essential mission even as we celebrate our diversity. Amen.
Day 4: Responding to Community Needs
Devotional
At the heart of God's calling is His desire to work through us to meet the needs of those around us. When we look at Jesus' ministry, we see Him constantly responding to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people He encountered. As His followers, we're invited to do the same.
The essence of the church isn't found in beautiful buildings or polished programs but in having our eyes open to our community, identifying needs, and listening to God's guidance on how to address them. This outward focus keeps us from becoming self-absorbed and reminds us that we exist to be Christ's hands and feet in a hurting world.
Successful ministries often begin when someone notices a need, feels God's prompting to respond, and takes a step of faith with the support of their church community. Whether it's providing meals for the hungry, companionship for the lonely, or hope for the discouraged, these ministries become powerful expressions of God's love.
Discerning which needs God is calling you to address requires attentiveness to what breaks your heart, what energizes you, and where your gifts and passions align with opportunities to serve. Not everyone is called to address every need, but everyone is called to be attentive to some need.
Today, take a prayer walk through your neighborhood or spend time reflecting on the needs you see in your community. Ask God to show you where He might be calling you to respond, either by joining an existing ministry or by pioneering a new initiative with others who share your vision.
Bible Verse
"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" - 1 Samuel 3:10
Reflection Question
What need in your community consistently catches your attention or breaks your heart, and how might God be calling you to respond?
Quote
The essence of the church is having our eyes on our community, identifying the needs in our community, listening to God, calling us to those needs and how to address them.
Prayer
God of compassion, open my eyes to see the needs around me as You see them. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me courage to respond when You call me to address a need, and connect me with others who can join me in this work. May my life be a channel of Your love and transformation in my community. Amen.
Day 5: Transformed for God's Glory
Devotional
The ultimate purpose of God's calling on our lives isn't just about what we do—it's about who we become and how our transformation impacts others for His glory.
When we respond to God's voice, whether through internal promptings or external confirmation, we embark on a journey of growth. The Holy Spirit works within us, empowering, guiding, and sometimes even gently pushing us beyond our comfort zones. This process isn't always comfortable, but it's always purposeful.
As we follow God's calling, we find ourselves being shaped more into the image of Christ. Our priorities shift, our character develops, and our capacity to love expands. We become more patient, more compassionate, more courageous—not by our own strength, but by the transforming work of the Spirit within us.
And here's the beautiful part: our personal transformation becomes a catalyst for community transformation. As we love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously, we participate in God's work of renewing all things. The church becomes not just a gathering of individuals but a powerful force for positive change in the world.
None of us perfectly reflects Christ's message or fully lives out our calling. We're all somewhere on the journey, taking steps of faith and sometimes stumbling along the way. But as we encourage one another and work together, we move forward in fulfilling God's purposes for our lives and our communities.
Today, reflect on how responding to God's calling has transformed you so far, and recommit yourself to the ongoing journey of growth for His glory.
Bible Verse
"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" - 1 Samuel 3:10
Reflection Question
In what ways has responding to God's calling already begun to transform your character, and what area of further growth do you sense He's inviting you into now?
Quote
All for the purpose, for transforming us and our community for the glory of God.
Prayer
Transforming God, thank You for the privilege of being called by You. Continue Your work in me, shaping me to be more like Jesus each day. Help me to respond with Samuel's openness, saying, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening." Use my life and the collective witness of our church to bring transformation to our community for Your glory. Amen.
