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.

Are you cornered by a deception?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

Today, we begin 1 Samuel 28. This chapter is interesting, to say the least. For the most part this paints a final picture of the downward progression of Saul. But before we get to that we see one more glimpse of David and Achish as they prepare to go to war with Israel together! Here are verses 1-2:

In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” — 1 Samuel 28:1-2

Here, we learn that David might be too clever and cunning. His deepfake is so convincing to the enemy king that he is convinced David should be chief of his secret service detail for life. David has overplayed his hand and now backed himself into his own corner, as he is compelled to wage war against his own people.

This is the problem with deception. The storyline must be developed; otherwise, the initial deception falls apart. This means one deception must be built on another and another. If a construction is too perfect, like David, you risk overplaying your hand and cornering yourself.

Later in this chapter, David will find a way out of this situation, but in the meantime, we are left wondering, and so is David.

When you are in a compromising position, the best thing to do is to be honest and not practice to deceive. Otherwise, the situation will become more complicated, and the deceptive storyline will become more challenging to maintain.

Is it time to stop your deception and come out from hiding?

#IntegrityMatters, #TruthOverDeception, #FaithfulLoyalty

1. When have you relied on deception to avoid conflict, and what consequences followed?
2. How does choosing honesty, even when risky, shape your character?

Stop being deceptive.

Lord, help me walk in truth, even when it’s hard or costly. Keep me from the traps of deception and make me trustworthy in all things. Amen.

The Struggle.

Is another's misconception your deception?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

Here is the final verse in 1 Samuel 27:

And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” — 1 Samuel 27:12

Achish was convinced that David had turned his back on Israel, pledging allegiance to him for life. But David hadn’t abandoned his people, faith, or God. But he was navigating a tight spot he got himself into. David’s “deepfake” was a carefully crafted illusion that walked a fine line given the expanse of the deception.

This moment reminds me that our decisions sometimes place us in situations where those around us misunderstand our position of faith. People will sometimes misjudge you, seeing your actions without understanding your loyalty to God. In these times, you must remember who you are and who you belong to. As you continue reading, you will see that David’s loyalty to God never wavered, even in these tenuous circumstances.

Remain faithful if you're in a tenuous situation. Unbelievers around you may perceive a different reality, but don't let that skew your reality or cause you ever to compromise your faith and integrity. Be loyal to God; when the time comes, be clear and uncompromised. Don't let others' misconceptions become your deception.

#FaithfulLiving, #IntegrityUnderPressure, #StayTrue

1. How do you handle situations where others misjudge your actions or intentions due to your faith?
2. In what ways can you remain faithful when surrounded by misunderstandings about your beliefs?

Don't let a deepfake lead you to deception.

Lord, help me stay true to You, even when others don’t understand my actions or intentions. Strengthen my resolve to honor You above all else. Amen.

Truth Be Told.

What happens when skill becomes a snare?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

David is currently residing in Philistine territory under the shield of Achish, and he is battling enemies of Israel that Saul has left unaddressed. But listen to this interaction with David and Achish in 1 Samuel 27:10-11:

When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. — 1 Samuel 27:10-11

So David was battling enemies of Israel, but according to this text, he was telling Achish he was battling territories in Israel. This was an outright lie. But as you can see, Achish never found out about it because David was wiping everyone and everything out, so there was no paper trail. This is quite a cunning deception by David.

It is hard to endorse what David chose to do in this situation. Yes, it was a tenuous situation. Yes, it was cunning. But David is also starting to slip up, and rather than trust in God with a sense of abandonment like he had before, he is now beginning to use his skill and strategy to save himself. And in my humble opinion, the deception and strategy used here remarkably resemble the situation with Uriah and Bathsheba. He uses deception to hide the pregnancy, deception to lure Uriah home, deception to persuade Uriah to sleep with his wife, and deception to put Uriah in a situation that leads to his death. David is trying to hide the paper trail. But in this case, he is trying to hide the paper trail of his sins from God, not Achish.

As Sir Walter Scott once wrote:

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"

This is the problem with deception. If you practice it even one time, and it works, you will practice it again. Eventually, deception will become entangled with your skill, and you will try your hand at deceiving God, which will bring you to ruin.

David’s skill once served him well, but that skill became a snare. My advice? Don’t follow his example. Don’t put yourself in situations that tempt you to deceive. Instead, stay reliant on God. Let Him be your shield, and practice obedience—not deception—in every situation!

#TrustGodNotDeception, #LessonsFromDavid, #ObedienceOverStrategy

1. Where might you be tempted to rely on your own skill instead of trusting God’s guidance?
2. How can you pursue transparency with God in challenging situations?

Don't be deceptive, ever!

Lord, help me to trust in Your ways above my own skills or strategies. Keep my heart honest and my steps obedient to You. Amen.

Clear the Stage.

Waiting doesn’t mean wasting time.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

David is currently residing in Philistine territory and the enemy king Achish gave him and his army a city called Ziklag where they resided which was right on the border of Philistine and Israelite territory, and here is what happened in the 16 months they resided here:

But for today, let's dive into 1 Samuel 27:8-9:

Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. — 1 Samuel 27:8-9

While David is in the "land between," we learn that he does not just sit idly. He is busy doing what he has always done — engaging his call and God's anointed. He is using his time and skill to fight the enemies of Israel. The Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites were all long-standing enemies of the nation of Isreal that God ordered Israel to devote to destruction, which Saul had not addressed (Deuteronomy 7:1-5; 20:16-18) And there is some violence and gore that might be disturbing here, but you will see tomorrow more detail on why this is.

If you are in a "land between," don't sit around idly. Act in obedience. Take the time to refine your God-given skills and talents and do what you see others are not doing that needs to be done. In the doing, God shapes you and reveals to you what you'll do next.

#InBetweenSeasons, #ActInObedience, #FaithInAction

1. How can you use your current season to refine your God-given skills and purpose?
2. What tasks or battles around you need action that others have left undone?

Don't be idle. Be faithful.

Lord, help me to stay active and obedient, even in seasons of waiting. Strengthen my hands to do the work you've called me to today. Amen.

Give Me Faith.