Stay On the Narrow Path

Greetings in the Lord!

Today's word comes from 1 Samuel 28:3-8~
"Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." "There is one in Endor," they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men when to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."

~The word today is interesting--it talks about how Saul loses heart when he sees his enemy gathering against him and then, after inquiring of the Lord and getting no response, he takes matters into his own hands and resorts to using witchcraft to give him some sort of direction. This is a big mistake on his part. Why was he so impatient and compromising?

I discern that the Lord is reaching out to those that may be looking for "shortcuts" or a returning to old destructive and faithless practices to get "answers." These are not answers, and there are no shortcuts to growing in the Lord and maturing in His presence. Resist all temptation to 'take matters into your own hands' and trust in the Lord's promises to us. He will never leave nor forsake us; nothing can separate us from the love of Christ...even when we feel we are not getting any response at all from Him.

Notice too, how Saul had to put on other clothes and disguise himself. When we choose to go our own way and consult a counterfeit source, it is like taking off the spiritual armor we are supposed to be wearing and blending into the world so as not to be recognized as a righteous son or daughter of God. We are weak and vulnerable, arrogant and unwise. Be patient in the Lord; learn to listen and wait for His response. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of your life that may need pruning or if you've gotten off-track; then, repent, heed the Spirit's counsel and wait upon the Lord.

~ Be blessed and be a blessing.

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