Are you willing to swallow the hard truth?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 3. I've titled this chapter "Into Our Silence God Speaks." Today, I am reading verses 15-18, it states:

Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.” — 1 Samuel 3:15-18

In the popular movie series The Matrix, the lead character, Neo, is given an option at the beginning of the film. He could take a red pill, enabling him to understand the truth outside the illusion of the Matrix. Or he could take a blue pill, allowing him to return to the illusion. Neo, of course, chooses the red pill, which opens his eyes to a discomforting truth. The life he had been living was nothing but an illusion. He was living a lie.

This illustration fits here because Samuel and Eli have to swallow some troubling truths.

But notice a few details about the two men. First, Samuel lay there all night, likely unable to sleep due to the troubling message about his mentor and feeling afraid to inform Eli about what God had said. Second, Eli calls Samuel as if he were a son, fully aware that God spoke to him but demanding to hear the truth about God's words.

In a way, they both have a red pill to swallow. Samuel has to speak a hard truth. Eli has to accept a hard truth.

I said this yesterday, but when God speaks, his truth is always a hard pill to swallow. God's truth declares that we are sinful, and then we have to accept the truth that we are sinful and need his salvation.

Some people don't want to believe this truth. They prefer the blue pill. They buy into the illusion that they are good enough and that this life is all about pleasure and personal gratification. But ignoring the hard truth does us no good if we are going to be confronted by it at some point. If we are going to face judgment by God at the end of life, isn't it pointless to ignore the truth?

Make today the day you make a change. Swallow the red pill, accept your sinfulness, and receive salvation and redemption before all you get is God's judgment.

If this is you today and you are ready to make a change, pray this prayer along with me:

God, I realize my life is ridden with sin. I accept this truth and need your salvation. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and his life, death, and resurrection as my means of redemption. I am ready to accept your truth and live by it all my days. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you prayed this today, reply and let me know. I would love to support you in some next steps.

#EmbraceTheRedPill, #CourageousFaith, #FacingHardTruths

Ask This:

Reflecting on Samuel's hesitation to share God's message with Eli, consider a time when you've struggled to speak the truth in love. What steps can you take to cultivate courage and honesty in your relationships, even when it's difficult?

In what areas of your life are you tempted to take the "blue pill" of denial rather than confronting uncomfortable truths? How can you actively choose the path of courageous faith, embracing God's truth, and pursuing transformation in those areas?

Do This:

Accept the truth from God, even when you don't like it.

Pray This:

Lord, grant me the courage to embrace the red pill of truth, confronting the uncomfortable realities in my life with faith and humility. May Your grace empower me to walk boldly in Your truth, trusting in Your redemption and transformation. Amen.

Play This:

Jesus, I Need You.

Three keys to unlocking divine direction.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 3. I've titled this chapter "Into Our Silence God Speaks." Today, I am reading verses 8-10, it reads:

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” — 1 Samuel 3:8-10

Today, Samuel demonstrates how to unlock the divine direction that you want and need. Three keys:

Key One | Persistence

God called Samuel four times before he realized that God was speaking to him. Four times! You thought you were slow.

Sometimes, we are all a little slow, but Samuel got something right. He was persistent in listening. We need the same persistence in how we listen. The world is noisy: there is political noise, business noise, financial noise, marital noise, household noise, emotional noise, and sometimes, it takes a lot of work to hear God through all the noise. This means you need to persist in listening. Don't quit listening for God after the first attempt or prayer. Listen longer because when you don't know what God's voice sounds like, you might have already heard it but just don't know it yet.

Key Two | Guidance

Samuel needed clear guidance to discern God's voice and how to respond.

If you are confused about what God wants you to do, seek spiritual guidance from someone you know who hears from God. Samuel had Eli. Eli was not a perfect man, but he did provide Samuel with enough guidance on how to discern and respond. It was just enough for him to take the first step. There are believers around you who hear from God and who have just enough wisdom to guide you as well.

Key Three | Readiness

I love Samuel's statement, "Speak, for your servant hears." His posture and positional readiness are what is needed.

Most believers want to hear from God but sometimes are not positionally ready for the answer. If you want to hear God's voice and get his direction, then you need to prepare your soul for divine guidance that may not be what you want to hear, do, or share with others. This is exactly what is about to happen to Samuel. Your posture must be that of the servant. When God speaks you need to ready yourself.

If you desire to hear from God, confidently embrace these three keys: persistence, guidance, and readiness. By applying these principles, you will consistently unlock the divine direction you want and need.

#DivineDirection, #HearingGodsVoice, #SpiritualGuidance

Ask This:

How can you cultivate a spirit of persistence in your daily life to better hear God's voice amidst the noise of the world?

Who in your life can you turn to for spiritual guidance and support, and how can you actively seek their wisdom to discern God's direction for your life?

Do This:

Do the three keys.

Pray This:

Father, grant me the persistence to listen for Your voice, the humility to seek guidance from those who follow You, and the readiness to obey Your will, even when it challenges me. Help me to hear Your whispers above the clamor of the world and to faithfully follow where You lead. Amen.

Play This:

The Struggle.

Have you ever felt the weight of God's silence? Today, I will give you two suggestions for navigating it.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 3. I've titled this chapter "Into Our Silence God Speaks." Today, I am reading verse 1, which states:

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. — 1 Samuel 3:1

If you are a believer, there is no greater comfort than hearing from the Lord. At the same time, there is no greater discomfort when you want to hear from Him, but you sense that either He is not speaking or you are not hearing Him.

More than a few times in my life, I have experienced this silence on matters of health, vocation, healing, finances, and marriage when I wanted an answer from God. This silence is disturbing and unsettling. Often, it leads to anxiety, confusion, and frustration that can mess with my head. In God's silence, my patience sometimes wears thin, and if I am not careful, my beliefs and thoughts will lead me to take matters into my own hands because I am weary of waiting on the Lord.

Have you been there? We all have.

The people of Israel were in the same place in 1 Samuel 3. They were in a time of silence when the "word of the Lord was rare." But the reason why was stated in Chapter 2 is that the priests at Shiloh, Eli’s sons, “did not know the Lord” and behaved in contempt for God and the people (1 Samuel 2:12–17).

So, if you are still waiting to hear from the Lord, let me make two simple suggestions.

Stop Spending Time With People Who Don't Know The Lord
First, stop spending time with people who do not know the Lord, even if they appear to know the Lord. Many people boast credentials, status, and education but are not grounded in the Lord (like Eli's sons). Their answers are based on secular ideologies and will lead you away from the Lord and further into silence.

Start Spending Time With People Who Do Know The Lord
Second, start spending time with people who know the Lord. These people are easy to find. They read God's word, listen to sound teachers, and share godly wisdom. In addition, increase your intake of God's Word and get around praying people who will pray for you.

If you do both of these things, the silence will break for you as it did for God's people. God will send the light of hope to you through Samuel, even in the darkest and quietest moments.

And then listen. God will speak, and you will know it. It will be easy to discern because it will be the voice of comfort in your present discomfort.

Let's pray:

God, please speak to those today to whom you have been silent. Please help them to eliminate the dissonance of this world. Put believers in their lives to whom you speak, and may your Word be a clear voice of comfort in their present season. Amen.

#GodsSilence
#SeekingHisVoice
#SpiritualJourney

Do you want to hear from the Lord?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 3. I've titled this chapter "Into Our Silence God Speaks." In this chapter, we will witness Samuel's remarkable journey as he emerges as the next spokesman for God. The key verse of this chapter is verse 10, which reads:

And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” — 1 Samuel 3:10

This verse represents a crucial moment in this book, in Samuel's life, and in the life of the nation of Israel. In this chapter, Samuel is about to undergo a significant transformation. He is transitioning from a boy serving in the temple to becoming a divine leader of God's people. It's like watching a disguised superhero enter a phone booth and emerge as this eager superhero ready to save the day.

Yet this unveiling occurs because Samuel is a man who is willing to listen to God and speak His will. From his interaction with God, we will learn six ways to listen to God this week.

1. Navigating Silence: Navigating times when God is silent (3:1)
2. Increasing Reception: What prevents us from hearing God's voice (3:2-7)
3. Recognizing His Voice: Learning to recognize God’s voice (3:8-10)
4. Painful Messages: When we recognize God's voice but don't like the message (3:11-14)
5. Telling the Message: Telling others what God has told us (3:15-18)
6. Becoming His Messenger: Declaring his message as his designated messenger (3:19-21)

Amid life's noise and distractions, it's easy to miss God's call. But just as He spoke to Samuel in the quiet of the night, God desires to communicate with each of us today. Whether we're navigating moments of silence, wrestling with doubts, or grappling with the weight of His message, the key lies in our willingness to listen and respond, just as Samuel did: "Speak, for your servant hears."

#ListenToGod
#DivineDialogue
#HeedHisVoice

1. How can we intentionally create moments of silence in our lives to better hear from God amidst the noise and distractions of our daily routines?
2. How can we respond like Samuel when we sense God's prompting, moving from simply hearing His voice to actively obeying and sharing His message with others?

Ready your heart and ears to hear from God.

Heavenly Father, grant me the grace to quiet my heart and mind, so that I may attentively listen for Your voice and faithfully respond to Your call, just as Samuel did. Help me to discern Your will and courageously share Your message with others, trusting in Your guidance and provision every step of the way. Amen.

I'm Listening.

Are you leading your kids spiritually?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are immersing ourselves in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today I am reading verses 18-21:

Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home. Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:18-21

One clear observation from this section is that Samuel and his parents (Elkanah and Hannah) remain faithfully devoted to God. Even Eli is reminded of this every year as they bring their sacrifices, and his mother provides Samuel with another robe. As a result, Eli continues to pass blessing after blessing to Elkanah and Hannah, who end up having not one child but six in all.

The impact of parents who actively guide and spiritually support their children is significant. There is a remarkable contrast between the children of Elkanah and the children of Eli. Elkanah and his family were actively devoted to God and took their spiritual responsibilities seriously, even after Samuel had left. In contrast, Eli was more passive in his approach to parenting his sons, assuming they would just understand at some point, and if you have read ahead, you know they didn't.

This chapter has really persuaded me to reflect on how I lead my children and take a few more steps in spiritually leading them. My role is not merely teaching them secular skills or new leadership techniques or persuading them to win friends and influence people; I am called to invest meaningful spiritual time, talent, and treasure in their lives.

So how about you?

Are you serving your family spiritually?

Are you intentionally nurturing their faith, modeling godly character, and providing opportunities for them to grow in their relationship with Jesus?

If not, commit to prioritizing your children's spiritual well-being. Pray for them fervently, teach them the Word of God diligently, and lead them by example as you walk in obedience to Christ. Invest time, energy, and resources into building a firm foundation of faith in their lives. May God bless your efforts abundantly as you faithfully serve your children, shaping them into the men and women of God He has called them to be.

Remember, your children (just like Samuel) are a precious gift "lent to you by the Lord." They are only under your immediate care and direction for a short season. How you steward this season will have eternal significance. And for those who don't have kids or whose kids have flown the nest: keep praying, keep leading, keep speaking the truth, and keep asking the Father to draw them to him. He is the only perfect father even when you are not.

Father,

Thank you for all the children you have lent to us. Draw them to you all their days. Guide them through sin into your holiness. Be their redeemer and use them to advance your kingdom.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

#ParentingWithPurpose
#SpiritualLeadership
#FaithfulFamilies

ASK THIS:

1. How can you prioritize spiritual investment in your children's lives amidst the busyness of daily routines?
2. Reflecting on the contrast between the families of Elkanah and Eli, what specific steps can you take to actively nurture your children's faith and spiritual growth?

DO THIS: Do one thing to spiritually lead your family today.

PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom and strength to lead my children spiritually, nurturing their faith and guiding them into a deeper relationship with You. May Your presence be evident in our home, shaping their hearts and lives according to Your will.

PLAY THIS: Run To The Father.