Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

What happens when we trust our own timing instead of God's? King Saul's story offers a sobering look at the consequences of impatience and the blessings that come from waiting on divine guidance.

Welcome to Episode #68 of Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart, where we dive into "Three Truths for a God-Centered Life" through the story of Israel's first king, Saul in 1 Samuel 11-13. This powerful scripture passage reveals both the heights of what's possible when God empowers us and the pitfalls that come when we step ahead of His timing.

This week we explore three important themes or aka truths...

These three principles—leadership God's way, trusting God above all, and patient obedience—form a framework for living that keeps God at the center of our lives. Join me for this encouraging devotional that will help you navigate life's challenges with renewed faith and perspective. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement in their faith journey today!

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

Have you ever found yourself somewhere you never planned to be, only to discover it was exactly where you needed to be all along? That's the powerful theme of this week's devotional as we explore "Lied to, yet Led by God" through 1 Samuel 9-10.

I share my personal journey of moving to New York City for what I thought was a position in women's ready-to-wear at Macy's Herald Square, only to discover I'd been misled and placed in intimate apparel instead. The frustration and disappointment I felt mirrors something many of us experience – that moment when life takes an unexpected turn that feels wrong.

This parallels beautifully with Saul's story in Scripture. He wasn't searching for a kingdom; he was just looking for his father's lost donkeys. But God used this mundane task to lead him directly to Samuel, who would anoint him as Israel's first king. Despite feeling unqualified and even hiding when the time came for his public appointment, Saul was exactly where God intended him to be.

God's sovereignty works like this in our lives too. What looks like being overlooked, misled, or placed in the wrong position might actually be divine positioning. Every twist in your journey serves a purpose in God's greater plan.

Have you experienced a situation where what initially seemed negative ultimately led to something beautiful? I'd love to hear your story. Subscribe for weekly devotionals that bring God's Word to life through personal stories and Scripture, and share this episode with someone who might need this reminder today.

Key passages: 1 Samuel 9-10

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

Difficult decisions—we all face them, but how do we know when the painful choice is actually the right one? In this thought-provoking devotional, I share a personal story from my management days at Macy's flagship store in New York that taught me something profound about leadership and sacrifice.

When my team faced dangerous working conditions in a sweltering sub-basement stockroom, I had to choose between preserving my spotless record or fighting for their wellbeing.

Samuel's leadership journey mirrors this tension perfectly. After successfully restoring Israel's relationship with God and defeating the Philistines, Samuel faces heartbreak when the people reject divine leadership in favor of a human king. God's response is stunning: "It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king." Yet even in this painful moment, God allowed a decision He knew would bring suffering.

The parallels are unmistakable. Sometimes what appears to be a setback or loss becomes the very pathway to our greatest blessing. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Whether you're facing a difficult workplace decision, family challenge, or spiritual crossroads, this devotional will encourage you to trust God's perfect perspective, even when the right choice comes with a personal cost. Listen now and discover how God uses our hardest moments to bring about His perfect plan.

Key Passages:

Proverbs 3:5-6

1 Samuel 7-8

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

Have you ever trained meticulously for something, perfected every detail, only to have someone switch things up right before the critical moment? That frustrating experience from my high school track days unexpectedly became the perfect analogy for understanding Israel's disastrous mistake in 1 Samuel 4-6.

This week's devotional explores what happens when we abandon systems that work in favor of spiritual shortcuts.

Israel made a similar error when facing the Philistines. Rather than seeking God's guidance through prayer and repentance, they simply grabbed the Ark of the Covenant.

This devotional challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we replacing relationship with routine? Are we carrying symbols of faith without actually walking with God? Are we trying to "switch up" God's perfect system with our own flawed strategies?

Subscribe now and join me each week for these brief but powerful devotionals that connect everyday experiences with timeless biblical truths. Your spiritual journey matters, and I'm honored to walk alongside you through these reflections.

Key Passages

1 Samuel 4-6

Joshua 7:6-9

Joshua 8:1

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

The heartbreaking legacy of Eli reveals a warning for all believers. Despite his prestigious position as Israel's high priest and Samuel's mentor, Eli's life ended in tragedy—not because he failed to recognize his sons' wickedness, but because he never moved beyond words to action.

Drawing from 1 Samuel 2-4, I unpack how Eli's passive parenting style allowed his sons to desecrate the tabernacle through theft, bribery, and sexual immorality. When confronted with their sin, Eli merely offered verbal rebukes without consequences, ultimately leading to God's judgment against his entire household.

This Biblical account resonated powerfully with my own parenting journey.

The spiritual implications are profound. We often recognize sin in our lives or others', but stop short of taking corrective action. Whether we're parents, leaders, or simply managing our personal faith journey, God calls us beyond acknowledgment to decisive response.

What "cable box buttons" are you pressing in your spiritual life? Subscribe now to continue our journey through 1 Samuel as we explore Samuel, Saul, Nathan, & David and more!

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

Have you ever felt stuck in a barren season of life? That feeling of being fruitless when you expected growth and progress? You're not alone.

This week, we dive into the powerful opening chapters of 1 Samuel, focusing on Hannah's extraordinary story. After years of childlessness and cruel mockery from her husband's second wife, Hannah pours out her heart to God in desperate prayer, promising to dedicate her son to His service if He would answer her plea. When God blesses her with Samuel, she follows through on her vow in an act of sacrificial faith that few of us could imagine—giving back the very blessing she had longed for.

What makes Hannah's story so compelling isn't just her sacrifice, but how God honored her faithfulness.

I share my own recent struggles with feeling spiritually and creatively barren despite outward success. Through tears and late-night prayers, God reminded me that these desert seasons often precede periods of unexpected growth and new direction.

If you're navigating your own barren season right now, don't let it define you. Like Hannah, bring your broken heart directly to God, trust His timing, and be willing to give back whatever blessings He provides. Subscribe now to join me on this awesome study of 1 Samuel.

Key Passages 1 Samuel 1 & 2

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

Have you ever watched something spiral so far out of control that it made you sick to your stomach? That's exactly what the final chapters of Judges feel like—a society in complete moral freefall.

Diving into Judges 17-21, we confront some of the Bible's most disturbing passages—stories filled with idol worship, sexual violence, tribal warfare, and moral chaos. These chapters repeat a haunting refrain: "In those days Israel had no king, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes." For the first time in the book, God doesn't raise up a judge to deliver His people. It's as if He steps back to let them experience the full consequences of abandoning His ways.

I draw an unexpected parallel with Disney's The Lion King, comparing Israel's deterioration to Scar's disastrous reign over Pride Rock.

This devotional doesn't shy away from difficult truths but points toward hope on the horizon. The chaos at Judges' conclusion sets the stage for Ruth and Samuel, eventually leading to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ. Sometimes God allows things to fall apart so we can recognize our desperate need for Him. No matter how dark things get, grace offers a way forward. Won't you join me next week as we begin our journey through Samuel, where we'll witness God's preparation for bringing the King who changes everything?

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

Red flags appear in our lives for a reason—yet how often do we charge past them? In this powerful conclusion to Samson's story, we witness how one of the Bible's strongest men became undone by ignoring clear warning signs in his relationship with Delilah.

Samson's tale serves as a sobering reminder that even God-anointed strength can be compromised when we entertain toxic relationships. Despite Delilah attempting to betray him three separate times, Samson remained with her, eventually sharing the secret of his strength that would lead to his capture, blinding, and imprisonment.

I share my own experience with a relationship where financial selfishness created a clear pattern of behavior. Despite knowing better, I gave second chances only to face the same disappointment.

The most powerful takeaway? Satan studies your strengths just as the Philistines studied Samson's. Protect what God has given you—your talents, your peace, your purpose—by recognizing the writing on the wall when it appears. Subscribe now to continue our journey through Scripture and learn how ancient wisdom continues to guide our modern lives through the book of Judges.

Follow me on Substack for application questions & reflection on each episode. Share your comments

Study of Ruth - Click Here

Study of Judges - Click Here

Study of Joshua - Click Here

Download Birth of Jesus E-book Here - Scroll and download
Click Here for Devotional Link

Follow Jessi Morgan on social:
TikTok - @Jessimorganfaith
IG - @Jessimorganfaith
Website: www.jessimorganhome.com/devotions
Contact: jessi@jessimorganhome.com
Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip