Hey friends, welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Have you ever woken up at night because you thought you heard something? Today’s story is about a boy named Samuel who really did hear someone calling his name—and it was God!

In 1 Samuel chapter 3, Samuel was just a boy serving in the temple with Eli the priest. One night, while Samuel was lying down, he heard a voice call, ‘Samuel!’ He ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, you called me!’ But Eli said, ‘I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.’

This happened again—and again! Finally, Eli realized it was God calling Samuel. He told Samuel, If you hear the voice again, say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

So the next time God called, Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ And from then on, Samuel grew up to be a great prophet who heard God’s voice. ...