Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
CONTEXT
Saul overcomes his first opposition and proves his leadership as king.
Bible Reading
Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became angry. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one man. He numbered them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.'” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. Then the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
– 1 Samuel 11:5-11
Devotion
The initial opposition against Saul was overcome, and the king proved himself. Saul was acting in God’s will and God gave him wisdom to overcome the Ammonites. Our lives, like the Nation of Israel, are safe as long as we stay in God’s will, under His umbrella of protection. We get in trouble, like the Israelites, when we get out from under God’s umbrella and try to do our own thing separate from God.
The Big Question
Are you acting in God’s will today? God will not honor or protect you if you are out of His will. Eliminate whatever sin or activity is causing you to remain outside of God’s umbrella of protection. It’s not only for your good, but also for the well-being of anyone under your responsibility.
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.