Don't let secular ideologies erode your faith.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

We want you to live all in and know, grow, and go with Jesus every day. Check out the show that dropped yesterday on Spiritual Leadership In Your Family. This might be a helpful video if you have been trying to figure out how to do this.

Also, we are just a few chapters away from finishing 1 Samuel. So, I want to prepare you for our next book. We are moving to the New Testament and will start the new year with the Book of James! So go to our website and get the Scripture Journal for this book. There is a link below the video or in the show notes.

But for today, let's dive into 1 Samuel 27:3-4:

And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him. — 1 Samuel 27:3-4

I mentioned this yesterday, but this could have easily been 2000-3000 people. It's an overwhelming invasion of people in the Philistine city of Gath, and there is no way this did not create social, economic, and religious disruption for either Achish or David.

Although David sought temporary refuge in Gath to escape Saul's pursuit, he definitely faced new challenges when he exposed his people to the vanity of spiritually "uncircumcised" individuals. Living among the Philistines for sixteen months subjected David and his followers to ideologies and practices that were contrary to God's ways. In their quest for safety, the people became vulnerable to secular beliefs.

We are engaged in an ideological battle in our time, one that is particularly evident in corporate workplaces, educational institutions, and across various forms of social and traditional media. Unfortunately, many believers are unaware of these threats, and in their passivity, they are being actively indoctrinated with beliefs that contradict the truth found in God's Word. What makes this situation even more concerning is that if believers do not regularly engage with God's Word, they may unknowingly accept these opposing ideas as truth, ultimately undermining their faith in God. This is the battle we fight today.

Dial up your spiritual awareness today. Spend more time in God's Word. Test ideologies against God's truth. Stop being passive to secular ideas that don't make any sense. Talk with other believers and vet out the ideas that don't seem to align with God's Word.

You are always being discipled. It is either by the secular or the spiritual. If you don't engage, you might look up one day to realize that you or maybe your family don't believe in God because you have been too passive for too long.

For those of you who have seen this happen in your family and feel responsible for being too passive, I want you to know—it is never too late. Choose to stop being passive and get engaged in the battle. Believe the Father can draw them back. Be active in faith. Pray persistently. Engage in conversation. Be a godly example. Challenge any and all forms of passivity within your heart. Active faith conquers all past passivity.

Father, we come to you to seek forgiveness for our passivity. We also ask that you draw our families and friends back to you and the truth in Jesus' name. Amen.

#FaithInAction, #TrustGod, #RestoreFaith

1. How am I relying on my own strength instead of trusting God in my current challenges?
2. In what ways can I actively engage and disciple my loved ones today?

Stop being passive and engage.

Heavenly Father, help me to trust in You rather than my own solutions and to actively engage in discipling my loved ones. Strengthen my faith and guide my actions to reflect Your love and truth. Amen.

Lion.

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Have you ever met someone whose words appeared genuine but felt unsettling?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

Today, we. Here is what happens next in verses 22-25:

And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. — 1 Samuel 26:22-25

There are people in this life who make proclamations and pledges that are less than promising. You have known these kind of people. Their motives seem inconsistent or appear to have some hidden underlying agenda. David experienced this firsthand with Saul—numerous times. Saul confesses his sin, professes this to all, calls David "his son,” and invites him to return. However, David knew Saul’s heart better than even Saul did and saw right through his empty confession.

Still, David’s response was both gracious and wise. Instead of accepting Saul's invitation to return, he asked a young man to come and retrieve the king's spear. This was a profound statement about the nature of their relationship. David understood that genuine reconciliation between him and the king would require more than a show and spectacle; it would demand a change of heart and action.

David’s final words to Saul highlight a vital spiritual principle: “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness.” This is the law of sowing and reaping. What we sow in our hearts is reaped in our relationships. David’s refusal to engage with Saul was a verdict on the hidden seed sown in Saul's heart. Saul sowed unrighteousness in his heart, and therefore, he reaped it in his relationship with David (and many others). And David was not falling for his empty words and hallow promises.

We should always be discerning in our relationships. Believers should practice forgiveness and grace, but we must also recognize when words do not align with actions so as not to subject ourselves to vengeful people.

This week, take a moment to evaluate your relationships. If someone consistently speaks one way but acts another, consider how you can maintain healthy boundaries while still demonstrating Christ-like love. Either it’s time to have a candid conversation or, like David, extend grace while guarding yourself from ongoing harm.

#Discernment, #HealthyBoundaries, #FaithfulRelationships

Ask This:
How can you discern genuine intentions in your relationships while still extending grace and forgiveness?
Are there relationships in your life where words don’t match actions? How will you address them?
Do This:
Evaluate and proceed with caution.

Pray This:
Lord, help me discern the true intentions of those around me and give me the wisdom to set healthy boundaries. May I extend grace while protecting my heart from harm. Amen.

Play This:
Trust In God.

Have you ever found yourself in a conflict where emotions ran high, and the path to resolution felt unclear?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

Today, Saul is going to respond to David, who is standing on the hill holding his weapon and water jug. Here is what happens next in verses 17-21:

Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” — 1 Samuel 26:17-21

David's statement to Saul includes curiosity about two items:

1. The injustice: What David has done to deserve the justice of the Lord's army?
2. The instigator: Who has stirred Saul to pursue him, God or man?

Thus, David's reconnaissance mission was not about stealing Saul's weapon and water but about using them to gain intelligence into the injustice and instigator of the current inquisition. David understood that sometimes the battles we fight are not wars fought with weapons but wars fought off with careful questions and inquisitive words.

In our own lives, we often find ourselves in similar situations. Maybe it's a conflict with a colleague or a misunderstanding with a friend or family member. The instinct is to react emotionally or defensively, but David shows us a different path. He chooses to address the issue head-on with wisdom.

When you are in a verbal skirmish, pause and ask yourself the same questions David did. First, identify the injustice: What is the injustice in this situation? What have I done or not done that has led us to this point? Second, seek to understand the instigator: Who or what is instigating this conflict? Has a fear or misunderstanding ignited the flames of conflict?

We can defuse situations by approaching conflicts with this wisdom before they escalate. Use thoughtful questions and words of mercy to seek clarity and understanding rather than allowing human emotions to guide your responses. David didn’t return anger for anger, and neither should you. Be inquisitive and let your words be infused with grace, aiming for reconciliation rather than division, vengeance, and war.

God, forgive me when I act with a vengeance. May my words and curiosity be filled with wisdom and mercy in every interaction today.

#ConflictResolution, #WisdomInAction, #GracefulCommunication

1. What steps can you take to approach conflicts with curiosity rather than defensiveness?
2. How can identifying the true instigator in a situation change your response?

Seek wisdom and mercy in conflicts with intriguing questions.

Lord, help me to approach conflicts with a heart full of curiosity and grace, seeking understanding rather than division. May my words reflect Your wisdom and mercy in every interaction today. Amen.

Kindness.

Are you fighting the right battles, or just charging into the chaos without a strategy?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

At this point, David and Abishai sneak into Saul's camp and steal the spear and jar of water from the head of his bed. Here is what happens next in verses 12-13:

So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. — 1 Samuel 26:12-13

So the obvious question is, why does David take the spear and jar?

• "The spear" is Saul's instrument of leadership and aggression.
• "The jar of water" is Saul's source of sustenance in the desert wasteland.

Without any act of violence, David symbolically disarmed Saul and took his life.

This is a fascinating and strategic move by David.

Years ago, I remember my daughter, during her teen years, hitting a phase where she refused to keep her room clean. This was an ongoing battle between her and her mother and I. We would go back and forth about this for months until finally, she drew a line with us and declared her room "eminent domain." We thought this was a bold move because it was "our house" in which "her room" resided. So, one day, when she was gone, I decided to take her door off the frame, hoping that her lack of privacy would motivate her to clean her room.

When she returned home, she came stomping upstairs to protest that I had taken her door off her room. To which I responded, "That may be 'your room' but it's 'my door' and I will put 'my door' back on when 'your room' is clean."

She spent the next seven hours cleaning her room because her privacy was more valuable than "her room."

There are a lot of ways to fight battles.

David's move was strategic. He didn't kill Saul. Instead, he targeted the symbols of Saul's power and sustainability—the spear and the jar. This choice spoke louder than violence because it demonstrated his stealth skill and targeted objects of value to Saul to corner him into a change of heart.

Too often, we charge headlong into battles, attacking only the surface issues. We fight for the "room"—the immediate felt need—without considering the real need. For example, when I removed my daughter's door, I wasn't just trying to get her to clean up; I was targeting what mattered most to her: privacy and what mattered most to me: respect. The lesson was more than a lesson in a clean room—it was about responsibility, respect, and meeting the real underlying needs.

When you encounter a challenge today, take a moment to ask yourself, "Am I fighting the right battle?" Avoid getting caught up in superficial issues and overlook the deeper needs. If you do, your battles might have more positive and godly results.

#StrategicWisdom, #FightSmart, #DeeperLessons

1. What symbols of power or value in your life might you need to address to create lasting change?
2. Are you focusing on surface issues, or are you targeting the deeper needs in your battles?

Fight the right battle.

Lord, help me to see beyond the surface of my challenges and recognize the deeper needs that require attention. Grant me the wisdom to fight battles with strategy and grace, reflecting Your guidance in all I do. Amen.

Surrounded.