When I was 7 years old my father sent me for a hearing test because he noticed that I stopped responding to his voice. Thinking the best of me he assumed that this might be a problem with my hearing not my willingness to do what he said! As it turned out my hearing was fine and we came to the conclusion that this was not a hearing defect but a heart issue. I could hear him perfectly well; I was either choosing to ignore what he said or more often than not I was simply distracted by more exciting things than doing what I was told.

Whilst the Old Testament prophets were undoubtedly great communicators, their greatest attribute arguably was their ability to hear the voice of God. Their authority was derived from the fact that they were only saying what He had already said. Just like Jesus, their lives were shaped by hearing and responding to the Word of the Lord as a result of which they lived interesting, exciting and sometimes dangerous lives – but at least they lived!

If we are to continue to grow as the powerful, prophetic people that God has called us to be, then first and foremost we will be good listeners, training and positioning ourselves to hear the voice of the Lord above the tumult of the business of life, the noise of the crowd and the relentless drone of the multimedia world in which we live.

Secondly, we will be those who respond to what we have heard, disciplining ourselves to put the word we have heard into practice; increasingly sensitive and obedient to the voice of the Lord in our everyday lives.

Mary’s advice to the servants at the wedding at Cana stands the test of time and reminds us that the key to success and releasing the supernatural in life and not just meetings is simply to do whatever Jesus tells you to do. This week pray the prayer that was instrumental in Samuel the young boy becoming Samuel, one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. Speak Lord, your servant is listening!

Mark Lawrence