Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 12—Verse 21And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.We were created with an empty spot in our heart. We feel it, all our lives long: a longing, an ache, a desire for completion. We think, if we can just fill that spot, we will have arrived. Sometimes the longing is more intense, sometimes subtler. But it’s always ther...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 11—Verses 12-13Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.”Remember the slogan “Not MY President”? Well, here we see it is not a new attitude. The reality is, God has given us...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 10–Verse 11What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?Just because somebody has been used of God in some special way, does not mean God endorses their character. Saul, as we will find out, did not have a heart for God. He did not pan out, and he did not last long. In fact, he became a sick and tyrannical man. Please don’t celebrate people for...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 9--Verse 2He had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. Be careful of trusting a first impression. Sometimes we have a mental image of who would be right for what. And sometimes initially they check all the boxes. They look i...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 8--Verses 19-20But the people refused to obey 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, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”Israel had seen God defend and fight their battles for them, still they wanted a physical king like the other nations. Even with t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 7—The Israelites were in bondage to the Philistines and embraced vile idol worship. They lamented after God. They were sorrowful, grief stricken and fearful of what could be a point of no return for them. Had they lost the Lord forever? God was their last and only hope. As they obeyed Samuel’s directions to put away their false gods and confessed their sin, the Lord ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 6—Verse 6Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?Once again, we see people resisting God and His plan by hardening their hearts. God had dealt severely with the Egyptians when they wouldn’t let the Israelites go. And now Godhas bee...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 5—Verse 6The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.Sometimes I wish that God would show up and display judgment on His enemies like He did in the Old Testament. Some of the disciples of Jesus wished the same thing inNew Testament (Luke 9:54).Then I am reminded that I was...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 4—Verse 3...it will save us from our enemies. (NLT)Everything that the Israelites did in this chapter looked right. It even sounded right. Upon defeat, they brought the Ark of the Covenant–the vessel of the LORD’s presence–to help them overcome their enemies. Their shout for joy was so outrageous that it melted their enemies’ hearts in fear. Everything should go acco...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 3--Verse 10 NLTAnd the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”The Lord called 4 times before Samuel answered and I think the Lord does that to us when we don’t recognize it’s Him, He keeps on calling.  Has the Lord put anything heavy on your heart? Has He been calling your name and have you been simply ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 2— Verse 26Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.‬‬‬‬In this passage, we see the contrast between Hannah’s son and Eli’s sons. Hannah was blessed with a son after being barren, and she gave that precious blessing back to the Lord. Samuel grew with a heart soft toward the Lord. But Eli’s sons took advantage o...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 1--Verses 16-17 (NIV)“...Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”There is something about grief that all of us connect with even though it affects us all differently. Hannah was expressing her grief in deep sorr...  Read More