Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
CONTEXT
Samuel warned the Israelites what would happen when a king ruled over them. In spite of heeding these warnings, they wanted to be like all the other nations and have a king rule over them.
Bible Reading
So Samuel spoke all of the words of the Lord to the people who had asked of him a king. He said, “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
– 1 Samuel 8:10-22
Devotion
Samuel told the Israelites the drawbacks of having a king: taxation, drafting of men and women, appropriation of servants and animals, and the loss of personal liberty. They didn’t listen to the wise counsel of Samuel. They didn’t even pray about it. We often don’t pray or seek Godly wisdom because we want what we want, regardless of the consequences. Or, we go against Godly counsel because we think we know best.
The Big Question
Do you ask God for direction and His plan for your life, or do you just “wing it” until something unexpected happens? Do you ask for Godly counsel? Do you listen? Slow down and take time to seek God’s wisdom in all areas of your life.
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.