“Speak Lord” - Matthew Zimmer
Day 1:Knowing the One Who Speaks
Devotional
Have you ever received a phone call from someone you know well and recognized their voice immediately? No introduction needed—you just knew who it was. This is how God desires our relationship with Him to be. Before we can recognize His voice, we must first know Him personally. God doesn't want to be a distant figure we occasionally acknowledge. He wants to be someone we know intimately, whose character and ways are familiar to us. This knowing comes through spending time in His Word and through personal experiences with Him. When we truly know God, we begin to understand His heart. We recognize what aligns with His character and what doesn't. This discernment becomes crucial when we're trying to determine if what we're hearing is truly His voice or just our own thoughts and desires. The journey of hearing God begins with knowing Him. Not just knowing about Him, but truly knowing Him. This is the foundation upon which all spiritual guidance is built. Without it, we may find ourselves confused about whose voice we're actually following.
Bible Verse
"Then Jesus said, 'I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.'" - John 10:14
Reflection Question
In what ways have you been investing in knowing God personally, not just knowing about Him? How might deepening this relationship change your ability to recognize His voice?
Quote
The foundation to walking with God, hearing His voice, and accomplishing the will he has for our life is we first must know Him. We have to acknowledge him and we must recognize Him.
Prayer
Lord, I want to know You, not just know about You. Help me to spend time in Your presence, learning Your ways and understanding Your heart. Deepen our relationship so that when You speak, I immediately recognize Your voice. Amen.
Day 2:Creating Space to Hear
Devotional
Our world is filled with noise. From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, we're bombarded with sounds, notifications, and distractions. In this constant cacophony, how can we possibly hear God's voice? The truth is, God rarely shouts over the noise. Instead, He often speaks in that "still, small voice" that requires our intentional attention. To hear Him, we must create space in our lives—moments of quiet where we can listen attentively. Elijah discovered this on Mount Horeb. God wasn't in the powerful wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He was in the gentle whisper that came afterward. Similarly, our most profound encounters with God often happen not in the spectacular displays of worship but in the quiet moments that follow when we say, "Lord, speak. I'm listening." Creating space for God isn't just about physical quiet, though that helps. It's about quieting our minds and hearts, setting aside our agendas and preconceptions, and approaching Him with open hands and hearts, ready to receive whatever He wants to give or say.
Bible Verse
"After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." - 1 Kings 19:12
Reflection Question
What practical steps can you take this week to create more space in your life to hear God's voice? What distractions might you need to eliminate?
Quote
It's not in the lights. And the wonderful band that we've had come, and they've done an amazing job ushering us into the presence of God. It's not in all of that that we're hearing God's voice. It's in the moment after that when we say, Lord, Lord, speak. I'm here. I'm listening.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the noise and busyness of my life, help me create space to hear Your voice. Teach me to recognize when You're speaking, even in the gentlest of whispers. I quiet my heart now to listen. Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. Amen.
Day 3:The Word as Our Guide
Devotional
How do we know if what we're hearing is truly God's voice? One of the most reliable tests is whether it aligns with Scripture. God will never contradict His written Word. His character is consistent, and His guidance will always harmonize with what He has already revealed. This is why regular Bible study is essential for anyone who wants to hear God clearly. The more familiar we are with Scripture, the more easily we can discern whether a prompting is from God or from another source. It's like having a reference point, a standard against which we can measure every thought, feeling, or impression. When we immerse ourselves in God's Word, we begin to think His thoughts after Him. His priorities become our priorities. His heart becomes our heart. And when He speaks to us personally, we recognize the consistency between what we're hearing and what we've read. The Bible isn't just a rulebook or a historical document. It's living and active, a means through which God continues to speak to us today. When we approach it with open hearts, expecting to hear from Him, He faithfully meets us there.
Bible Verse
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1
Reflection Question
How has God's Word helped you discern His voice in your life? Can you recall a time when knowing Scripture protected you from following a voice that wasn't His?
Quote
The Lord will not speak or tell you something that violates what His Word has already spoken or said.
Prayer
God, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me to treasure it, study it, and hide it in my heart so that I might not sin against You. Use it to train my ears to recognize Your voice and to discern when something doesn't align with Your truth. Amen.
Day 4:Responding with Availability
Devotional
When God speaks, how do we respond? The story of young Samuel offers a beautiful example. When he heard God's voice, he simply said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." No conditions, no negotiations—just pure availability. God is looking for hearts that are willing to say yes before they even know what He's asking. He's seeking those who trust Him enough to follow wherever He leads, even when the path isn't clear. This kind of availability requires humility. It means acknowledging that God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. It means surrendering our plans and preferences to embrace His purpose. Samuel was just a boy when he first heard God's voice, yet his response set the trajectory for a lifetime of prophetic ministry. Age isn't the determining factor in being used by God—availability is. When we make ourselves available to Him, positioning our hearts to hear and obey, He can do extraordinary things through ordinary people.
Bible Verse
"For I gave him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is given to the LORD." - 1 Samuel 1:28
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life might God be calling you to greater availability? What fears or reservations might be holding you back from saying, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening"?
Quote
Samuel, one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. He anointed King Saul. He anointed King David. He was 12 years old when he heard the voice of the Lord. 12 years old when he answered the call of God on his life.
Prayer
Lord, like Samuel, I want to be available to You. Help me to overcome my fears and hesitations so that I can respond to Your voice with wholehearted obedience. Use me as You see fit, for Your glory and the advancement of Your kingdom. Amen.
Day 5:Stepping Out in Faith
Devotional
Hearing God's voice is just the beginning. The real test of our faith comes when we step out and act on what we've heard. This requires courage, especially when what God is asking seems beyond our abilities or understanding. God often calls us to tasks that are greater than our capacity to fulfill them. This isn't a mistake or a miscalculation on His part. It's by design. When we face challenges that exceed our abilities, we're forced to rely on Him rather than on ourselves. When we step out in faith, depending on God's strength rather than our own, something beautiful happens. Our inadequacy becomes the canvas on which God displays His adequacy. Our weakness becomes the stage for His strength. Our limitations showcase His limitlessness. Remember, when your dependency is on what the Lord has said and not on your own abilities, He will never let you fail. This doesn't mean everything will go smoothly or turn out exactly as you expected. But it does mean that God will accomplish His purposes through you as you trust and obey Him.
Bible Verse
"Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]." - Proverbs 3:5-6
Reflection Question
What has God been asking you to do that seems beyond your abilities? How might stepping out in faith, despite your feelings of inadequacy, allow God to display His power in your life?
Quote
Where I end and my abilities and my gifting’s end, that's where the glory and the grace of God begins to show up in my life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the courage to step out in faith when You call, even when what You're asking seems beyond my abilities. Help me to trust not in my own strength but in Yours. Use my inadequacy to display Your adequacy, my weakness to showcase Your strength. I choose to depend on what You have said rather than on what I can do. Amen.