How to Listen to and Obey God’s Voice in Your Family Life

171 7 minutes read

Have you ever wondered how to listen for and obey God’s voice in your life? Maybe you have been struggling with some issues or decisions, and you are not sure what God wants you to do. Or maybe you have been feeling distant from God, and you want to reconnect with Him and His will for your life. Whatever your situation, listening and obeying God’s voice is essential for your spiritual growth and your family’s well-being.

But how do you listen to and obey God’s voice? How do you know when He is speaking to you, and what He is saying? How do you discern His voice from your own thoughts, feelings, or other influences? And how do you follow His guidance, even when it is hard or unpopular?

In this article, we will look at the story of Samuel, a young boy who learned to listen to and obey God’s voice, and how his example can inspire us to do the same in our personal lives and family life. We will also discuss some practical tips and challenges that we may face as we seek to hear the voice of God and obey Him in our daily lives.

The Story of Samuel

Samuel was a special child, dedicated to the Lord by his mother Hannah, who had prayed fervently for a son. He grew up in the temple, serving under the priest Eli. One night, when Samuel was sleeping, he heard a voice calling his name. He thought it was Eli, so he ran to him and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he did (1 Samuel 3:1-5).

This happened three times, until Eli realized that it was the Lord who was calling Samuel. He told him to go back and lie down, and if he heard the voice again, to say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” So Samuel went back and lay down (1 Samuel 3:6-9).

The Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” The Lord then told Samuel a message of judgment against Eli and his sons, who had been wicked and disobedient. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the message, but Eli urged him to reveal everything. So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Eli accepted the message, saying, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord (1 Samuel 3:10-20).

What can we learn from this story about listening to and obeying God’s voice in our family life? Here are some lessons:

God speaks to us in various ways. He may speak to us through His word, His Spirit, His creation, His people, or circumstances. He may also speak to us directly, as He did with Samuel. We need to be attentive and open to His voice, whatever the means He uses.
God speaks to us according to our level of understanding. He spoke to Samuel in a way that he could recognize and comprehend. He did not use complicated words or concepts that would confuse him. He also repeated His call until Samuel responded. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows how to communicate with us effectively.
God speaks to us for a purpose. He did not call Samuel just to chat or make small talk. He had a specific message for him, a message that had implications for his life and the lives of others. God does not speak to us randomly or aimlessly. He has a plan and a mission for us, and He wants us to know it and follow it.
God speaks to us with authority. He did not ask Samuel for his opinion or permission. He told him what He wanted him to do, and expected him to do it. God is not our equal or our buddy. He is our Creator and our King, and He deserves our respect and obedience.
God speaks to us with grace. He did not scold or punish Samuel for not recognizing His voice at first. He patiently waited for him to realize who was calling him, and gave him another chance. God is not harsh or impatient with us. He is loving and merciful, and He gives us opportunities to hear Him and obey Him.

How to Listen and Obey God’s Voice in Your Family Life

Now that we have seen how Samuel listened and obeyed God’s voice, how can we apply this to our own family life? Here are some practical tips:

Spend time with God regularly. The best way to hear God’s voice is to be close to Him. Make it a habit to read His word, pray, worship, and meditate on His truths. As you do, ask Him to speak to you and reveal His will for you and your family. One great way to spend time with God is in Eucharistic adoration where you sit in the presence of Jesus and He gazes on you.
Regularly attend Holy Mass. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian faith. By regularly attending Mass and surrendering ourselves to Jesus, we receive the grace needed to overcome our greatest obstacle – sin – and be better able to hear the voice of God.
Regularly attend the sacrament of reconciliation. Sin is an obstacle to faith and to us entering into e deeper relationship with God. By regularly attending the sacrament of reconciliation, that obstacle is removed making it easier for us to hear the voice of God.
Seek God’s guidance in everything. Don’t limit God’s voice to certain areas or situations. Invite Him to speak to you about every aspect of your family life, from the big decisions to the small details. Ask Him for wisdom, direction, and clarity in all that you do.
Listen with humility and openness. Don’t assume that you know what God wants or what He is going to say. Don’t let your own preferences, biases, or expectations interfere with His voice. Be willing to hear whatever He has to say, even if it is different from what you want or expect.
Obey with faith and courage. Don’t hesitate or argue with God when He speaks to you. Don’t let fear, doubt, or peer pressure stop you from following His guidance. Trust that He knows what is best for you and your family, and that He will provide the resources and the strength you need to obey Him.
Share with others what God has spoken to you. Don’t keep God’s voice to yourself. Tell your spouse, your children, your relatives, your friends, and your church what God has said to you and what He has done for you. Encourage them to listen and obey God’s voice as well. Be a witness and a testimony of His grace and power in your life.

Challenges of Listening and Obeying God’s Voice in Your Family Life

Listening and obeying God’s voice in your family life is not always easy or comfortable. You may face some challenges along the way, such as:

Distractions. Many things can distract us from hearing God’s voice, such as busyness, noise, entertainment, worries, or temptations. We need to be careful not to let these things drown out God’s voice or take priority over Him.
Confusion. Many voices can confuse us or mislead us, such as our own thoughts, feelings, or desires, the opinions of others, the culture of the world, or the lies of the enemy. We need to be discerning and test every voice against God’s Word and His Character.
Resistance. Many factors can make us resist God’s voice or disobey Him, such as pride, selfishness, rebellion, fear, doubt, or unbelief. We need to be humble and submissive and repent of any sin that hinders our relationship with Him.
Opposition. Many forces can oppose us or persecute us when we listen and obey God’s voice, such as our enemies, our critics, our circumstances, or our trials. We need to be steadfast and courageous and rely on God’s presence and protection.

How can we overcome these challenges? Here are some suggestions:

Seek God’s help. We cannot listen and obey God’s voice on our own strength or wisdom. We need His help every step of the way. We need to ask Him for His grace, His power, His guidance, and His protection as we seek to hear Him and follow Him.
Seek godly counsel. We cannot listen and obey God’s voice in isolation or independence. We need the support and the accountability of other believers who can help us confirm God’s voice, encourage us in our obedience, and pray for us in our struggles.
Seek biblical examples. We cannot listen and obey God’s voice without a model or a mentor. We need to look at the examples of those who have listened and obeyed God’s voice before us, such as Samuel, Abraham, Moses, David, Mary, Paul, etc., and learn from their successes and failures.

Conclusion

Listening and obeying God’s voice is one of the most important things we can do in our family life. It is the key to knowing God’s will and experiencing His blessings and growing your family to become that which God intended it to be. Conversely, we do not have to go far at all to see the effects of rejecting God’s voice. It is all around it in the crime, violence, corruption, wars, and all of the other societal ills that have become so prevalent in our world today. Listening and obeying God is also the way to honor Him and glorify Him with our lives.

Let us follow Samuel’s example and say to the Lord: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” And let us also follow his example and do what the Lord asks of us.

May the Lord speak to us clearly and powerfully in our family life today.