Is God not answering?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

King Saul is freaked out right now. God is not answering, and this is what he decides to do. 1 Samuel 28:8-9:

So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” — 1 Samuel 28:8-9

Saul is working very hard to ignore God’s silence!

Saul’s issue wasn’t that God wouldn’t answer; it was that God's silence was the answer. Saul had spent years hardening his heart through disobedience. His life was a string of compromises, and now, in desperation, he wants God to come through on his terms and timeline. But God’s silence was God's answer to Saul’s unrepentant heart.

Instead of addressing the core issue—his sin—Saul doubles down, disguises himself, disobeys God again, and seeks out a medium. He knew it was wrong; after all, he had banned necromancers from the land! But Saul wanted what he wanted, even if the means of a medium meant disobeying God again.

Isn’t that how we can act sometimes?

When we don’t get the answer we want—or no answer at all—we panic. We rush ahead, trying to make things happen our way. But sometimes, the silence is God’s way of pointing us to the core issue: our sin and disobedience. Often this is not the answer we want, but it is the one God wants.

So, if you’re in a season where God seems silent, ask yourself these four questions:

• Am I open to hearing His solution, or do I only want a quick solution?
• Am I seeking His will for my life or help for my immediate circumstances?
• Am I asking God to fix my situation or to refine my soul?
• Am I ready to accept His plan, or do I want Him to approve my plans?

#GodsTiming, #TrustInTheSilence, #ObedienceMatters

1. How do I typically respond when God seems silent? Do I seek His will or rush to my own solutions?
2. Is there any unaddressed sin or disobedience in my life that could hinder my connection with God?

Listen carefully in the silence.

Lord, help me to trust Your silence and seek Your will instead of rushing ahead with my own plans. Reveal any sin in my life that keeps me from hearing You clearly. Amen.

Trust In God.

Are you talking with the wrong people?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

King Saul is freaked out right now. He glared down at an inevitable war with his two great enemies, Achish and David. And in his despair, he will do exactly what he shouldn't. Let's read verses 6-7:

And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” — 1 Samuel 28:6-7

Are you talking with the wrong people?

Saul's fear drove him to desperation, and in that desperation, he made a devastating choice. This decision not only disobeyed God's orders (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) but also disobeyed his own order and reflected his unwillingness to listen to God in his anxiety and impatience.

We often do the same, don’t we? When life presses in and we feel anxious, we can seek answers in all the wrong places. We might turn to:

• People: People who have opinions that are opposed to God.
• Friends: Friends who only tell us what we want to hear.
• Feelings: Your own feelings that lead you astray.

So today, I want you to evaluate: Have you deafened your ears to God and turned to consulting the wrong people?

Instead, try this:

1. Talk with God in prayer about your issues.
2. Dig into God's Word by reading Scripture.
3. Seek counsel from God-fearing people.

Just so you know, consulting mediums are not the right medium.

#SeekGodFirst, #GodlyWisdom, #RightVoices

1. Who are you turning to for advice when you're anxious—God, His Word, or people who may lead you astray?
2. How can you ensure you listen to God's voice rather than letting fear guide your decisions?

Consult with God and his people.

Lord, help me to seek Your wisdom above all else and trust Your timing, even when I feel anxious or afraid. Guard my heart from turning to the wrong voices and guide me to listen to You alone. Amen.

God Who Listens.

Are you in a mess? Maybe it is time to reach out for help.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

At the beginning of Chapter 28, we got a snapshot of what was going on with Achish (the Philistine King) and David, who were planning to go to war with Israel. But for much of the rest of the chapter, we are going to jump to King Saul, and we are going to see a spiritual downward spiral that is demonic. This has been the trajectory of his life and legacy, so let's see what happens first in verses 3-5:

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. — 1 Samuel 28:3-5

Saul realizes that powerful and longstanding opposition is coming after him—the Philistines and David. David had been merciful many times, but Achish would not be. Considering both were acting in tandem, it was emotionally overwhelming for Saul. In addition, the Judge and Prophet who once provided Saul direction in these moments, Samuel, is gone, and he had ordered the slaughter of all the other priests. Therefore, Saul is about to be attacked, emotionally distraught, and lacking a voice of wisdom, and now he is looking for something, anything, to grab hold of in the mess he has made.

If you have been in this situation, you know nothing is more lonely. Like Saul, we all face challenges that seem insurmountable, whether they're personal struggles, leadership crises, or spiritual battles.

But those of you who have been reading Saul's story with me know that Saul made this mess. His spiritual rejection, disobedience, resistance, and denial of community support led him to this outcome.

My advice is not to do what Saul did. Instead, GRAB onto these principles and avoid the mess altogether:

1. Guidance: Keep your connection with God strong.
2. Repent: Acknowledge and correct your mistakes.
3. Adhere: Follow God's guidance faithfully.
4. Brotherhood: Foster a supportive faith community.

Maybe today, as you hear this, you feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges. You’ve been trying to face the battles of life alone, and it’s left you anxious, uncertain, and maybe even hopeless. Or perhaps you’ve drifted from God as Saul did, and you sense it’s time to return to Him.

Jesus came to meet you in the middle of your mess. He offers guidance when you are lost, grace when you’ve failed, and peace when you’re afraid. If you’ve never given your life to Him, today is the day to grab hold of His truth and surrender to His leadership. Or, if you’ve been distant, this is your moment to return to the One who never left you.

Here’s How: Confess your mess, stop trying to be your own king and lord, and surrender to following the Only King and Lord, Jesus, from this day forward.

If you’re ready to make that decision—whether for the first time or to come back to Him—let me know by writing “Jesus Is My Lord” in the comments below. I want to celebrate and pray for you as you take this life-changing step.

When you reach out for the Lord, He grabs hold of you—and He never lets go. Don't wait; reach out to him today.

#ReachOutForHelp, #TrustInGod, #FaithOverFear

1. What challenges in your life feel overwhelming, and how can you invite God into those moments for guidance and peace?
2. Have you been trying to face life’s battles alone, and what step can you take today to reconnect with God?

Grab a hold of Jesus.

Lord, I confess the mess I’ve made trying to do life on my own. Help me surrender to Your guidance and trust in Your unfailing love. Amen.

Never Let Go.