VinceMiller

Feeling disillusioned by the state of national leadership? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 4. I've titled this chapter "Misusing Divine Power." In the first few verses of Chapter 4, we discover that the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. They engaged in two battles sustaining devastating losses, first 7000 dead, then 30,000 dead, until the Philistines claimed victory, captured the Ark of God, and then sent the Israelites running. Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. And the man said to Eli, “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” And he said, “How did it go, my son?” He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.— 1 Samuel 4:15-18 What we witness here is not just a catastrophic defeat in battle. This is the end of an era. The end of 200 years of the nation of Israel being led by Judges. It is a sad ending that comes about by an apathetic Priest and Judge who fails to lead. But it also marks the beginning of a new chapter. Samuel, the great Judge, will lead us from a Theocracy led by Judges into a Monarchy led by Kings, a transition that brings with it the promise of hope and change. As I have aged, I have learned a thing or two about national leaders and government powers. There isn't one who isn't corrupted by some form of sin. Israel, God's people, would be led by Judges, Priests, Kings, and Prophets, and not one of these men and their systems were without sin. There was and is only one perfect leader. He is our Judge, Priest, King, and Prophet — Jesus Christ. Till he comes to reign earth again and take us home, he reigns within our hearts. He is the only perfect leader. Till Jesus comes, we will live under the leadership of some unfortunate leader or power. In the next four years, Americans will either be led by a babbling puppet president or a self-absorbed playboy. Those are the choices we have in our Constitutional Republic. It does not matter how you present or position either one of these men. Neither man is our Savior because neither is a match for the Savior. And that is what Eli just learned. His failures in leadership were no match for God's plan, promises, and power. Age, blindness, apathy, poor parenting, and his failure to lead were not an excuse. God held him accountable for all this, tipped over his chair, and took the reigns from another apathetic and pathetic leader. We have a ruler. He is the only ruler. He rules all creation. It doesn't matter who rules and reigns our nation. The only thing that matters is if God rules your heart. If he doesn't, then you will have hell to pay, just like Eli. #DivinePower, #SpiritualLeadership, #GodsSovereignty Ask This: Reflecting on Eli's leadership, how can we ensure we don't become apathetic in our roles of influence, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities? Considering the contrast between human rule and God's sovereignty highlighted in this passage, how can we actively invite God to rule our hearts and guide our decisions in a world filled with imperfect leadership? Do This: Submit to the King. Pray This: Lord, help me recognize and resist the temptation of apathy in my leadership roles. Guide me to lead with integrity and passion, reflecting Your divine power and sovereignty in all I do. Have Your will with our national leaders. Amen. Play This: Champion.

Your sin can become a national crisis. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 4. I've titled this chapter "Misusing Divine Power." In the first few verses of Chapter 4, we discover that the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. They engaged in two battles sustaining devastating losses, first 7000 dead, then 30,000 dead, until the Philistines claimed victory, captured the Ark of God, and then sent the Israelites running. A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. — 1 Samuel 4:12-14 This is a tragic moment for Israel. In a short devotional, it's tough to capture how devastated God's people might have felt. The unnamed Benjamite makes the 20-mile run retreating from the battle and shows up wearing all the signs of a man in mourning “with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.” The only way to capture the feeling of this moment is to imagine that you receive a call in the next few moments that your spouse or child was killed and then multiply it by 37,000. That's the message this man delivered to this city: 37,000 souls lost on the field of battle, including sons, husbands, and fathers. But let's not forget that all of this stemmed from the apathy of one man. Eli, the last in a long line of Judges, allowed his sons to continue to act in disobedience until finally, they did the unthinkable. They took the Ark of the Covenant from the House of the Lord into battle, which led to slaughter. Disobedient actions concern God, but so does disobedient inaction. Eli had plenty of time to deal with his sons' disobedience, but he didn't. He was apathetic. He took no action, and his inaction was counted as disobedience. This devious sin had devastating consequences for him, his family, his legacy, and 37,000 families who were also impacted. Listen carefully: your sin never only affects you. Disobedient action and disobedient inaction have consequences for everyone. Here's the application. Don't be spiritually apathetic to God today. Address your secret sin and stop hiding it. Address the issue in your marriage that you still need to address. Address your child who is acting in sin. Move from disobedient inaction into obedient action and rally those around you to godly action. If you keep putting it off, that situation will have the same devastating consequences in your life as it did to Eli, his family, and the nation of Israel because your apathy never affects only you; it affects everyone around you.

God's promises are greater than your plans. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 4. I've titled this chapter "Misusing Divine Power." In the first few verses of Chapter 4, we discover that the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. They engaged in a short battle between the towns of Ebenezer and Aphek. They sustained some losses, and then they got the crafty idea to bring the Ark of God to battle, so let's see how that turns out in the next reading, verses 5-11: As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. — 1 Samuel 4:5-11 Man Up And Fight As we can see, there was initial excitement about the idea. Even the Philistines were initially frightened by the understanding of how God had defeated an empire in Egypt that was far greater than them. But then the Philistines rally, resulting in a raging slaughter with 30,000 dead, and the ark is compromised. I find it especially interesting that if you look at this situation only from the perspective of the Philistines, you would be convinced that the victory resulted from courage in facing adversity and their resolve to "be men and fight." But we know it wasn't. This situation fulfilled the prophecy spoken by Samuel, stemming from the disobedience of Eli and his sons. God determined the outcome of this battle, not the Philistines or their courage. And because Israel had not trusted in God's power and tried to use his power for their pleasure, he was going to display his power without them. Limited Perspectives Make Wrong Deductions Humanity often has a limited perspective on God's plans. We can only see immediate events, so we make deductions based on what we can see. When we cannot see God's plans, we sometimes become uneasy. Instead of trusting God by faith and obeying him, we take matters into our own hands. In doing so, we justify our actions and make natural human deductions that do not align with God's intentions. Like the Philistines and the Israelites, we may think we need to "man up and fight." While this approach could lead to an occasional victory, it can also result in catastrophic failure. Regardless of the outcome, we must recognize that our deductions and connections may not necessarily be correct, even if we have manned up and fought. Both Israel and the Philistines were about to learn a hard lesson: God's promises are greater than their battle plans. God's Promises Versus Your Plans You have plans. You have career plans, financial plans, marital plans, family plans, and retirement plans. You battle for these plans. Sometimes, you think you need to put in more effort and fight harder. But occasionally, your plans will contest God's promises. Given your limited perspective, you will mistakenly think fight harder. Sometimes, you might win and wrongly think you did it, mustering more courage for another fight. Sometimes, you will lose, causing you to reflect and change course. Before you man up and fight, here are four preliminary actions: Immerse yourself in God's promises. Let God's promises inform your perspective and plans. Be obedient. Trust by faith. Then, man up and fight. If you don't do this first, you will only end up fighting against God, and no man can man up, fight, and win against God's promises. #GodsPromises #TrustHisPlan #FaithOverFear Ask This: How can you discern between your own plans and God's promises in your daily decisions and pursuits? What steps can you take to cultivate a deeper trust in God's promises, even when faced with uncertainty or adversity? Do This: Do all four actions. Pray This: Father, help me to surrender my plans to Your promises, trusting in Your wisdom and sovereignty over my life. Grant me the courage and faith to follow Your lead, even when it requires letting go of my own understanding. Amen. Play This: God of the Promise.

God's power is not your pleasure. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 4. I've titled this chapter "Misusing Divine Power." Today, I am reading verse 1-4, which states: Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. — 1 Samuel 4:1-4 The contention between Israel and the Philistines will continue throughout this book, so it might be helpful to understand the tension between these two peoples. The Philistines and the Israelites, both relatively new to the region, emerged around the same time. The Philistines settled primarily in the coastal plain to the west of the hill country, establishing their dominance in five main cities: Ekron, Ashdod, Gath, Ashkelon, and Gaza. Each city was governed by a Philistine lord or king. This geographical and political context is crucial to understanding the dynamics of the conflict between these two peoples. When we begin Chapter Four, a battle unfolds. But since we have just started reading 1 Samuel, we would be wrong to think this was the first battle. This loss was only one of many battles that had been going on for some 200 years through the time of the Judges. For Israel, this loss in battle was one of many, and it was the last straw that broke the camel's back. You can see Israel returns to Shiloh conflicted about this. They concluded they were defeated by "the Lord" and not by the Philistines, which is perfect theology—making their theology right and their subsequent response wrong. The issue at hand for the Israelites is "Why?" Why has the Lord allowed this to continue for the last 200 years, even though they entered the land with such a promise of prosperity? The "Why" is probably threefold: The disobedience as a nation. The disobedience of Eli and his sons. The promise of punishment to Eli and his house is prophesied by Samuel. But rather than exploring the answer to "why" and seeing the connection to their disobedience, they took matters into their own hands. They decided if God would not use his power to give them victory, they would use his power for themselves. In failing to see God's "why," their theology makes a radical turn. They change their minds about what God is and is not able and capable of doing and make themselves the enemy of God. Listen to their reasoning again: "Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” Initially, they proclaimed God did it. But now they deduce God's proximity is too far; therefore, they do something they should not have done—remove the ark of God from Shiloh. In the coming days, you will see the result of this wrong decision. This happens to believers on a personal level all the time. We are fine with God being sovereign and in total control of the events in our lives until we don't understand the "why." When his "why" evades us, we become irritated because we can only sustain so many losses until we change our minds about what God is or is not doing. We justify ourselves, assuming we are innocent of sin, and then take matters into our own hands because we don't like the mystery and the faith required when there is no answer to the "why." If you find yourself in this place today, wondering why things are happening, rest assured that there is an answer. God knows it and will reveal it in time. However, be careful not to misuse God's power for your own pleasure, as this could lead to an uncomfortable and challenging lesson. Instead of asking "why," have faith in God's timing and power and focus on the more important question: "How can I obey God today?"

Are you misusing God's power, thus missing his power? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 4. I've titled this chapter "Misusing Divine Power." Today, I am reading verse 22, which states: And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” — 1 Samuel 4:22 This verse is the shocking moment in this chapter. It is a statement of national stupidity. Israel made foolish choices, thinking they could harness God's power for personal means, which led to the capture of the ark of God. For those unfamiliar, the ark was a sacred chest containing the Ten Commandments that rested in the Temple, symbolizing God's presence and power. Humanity has long been intrigued by God's power. Even if we don't fully comprehend the intricacies of religion, we know that God, by nature, is considered all-powerful. The idea that God's power could somehow be harnessed for our benefit is undeniably attractive. The thought of this takes me back to those old classic Indiana Jones movies, like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Last Crusade" where notorious explorers are allured by the proposition that the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail hold power that one could harness for personal pleasure and means. For many, God's power is exactly what draws them to God. Consider the businessman burdened by anxieties and challenges. In desperation, he comes to God, praying that God's power will give him success or prevent the success of his competitors. If God's power can do that, the businessman sees value in God. Or consider the unbeliever who is terminally ill. Even though they have lived a prayerless life, their illness brings them to one of those "Hail Mary Prayers" for God’s healing power. If God can offer that, then they see some value in God. The applications of this twisted understanding of God's power are endless. But this is exactly what the followers of God in Israel attempt to do in 1 Samuel 4. Believers attempt to harness the power of the ark of God for their own personal means, resulting in a mass casualty event of proportions that is catastrophic to the people of Israel. And that is what the woman in this text has learned. Her husband (Phinehas), brother-in-law (Hophni), and father-in-law (Eli) are all dead because they misunderstood and misused the power of God. This entire chapter warns everyone about the misuse of God's power for personal pleasure. Harnessing God’s power even in our fragilities may be alluring, but it's fatal. We might even try to camouflage our attempt to harness our power behind a religious front, but still, this is fatally wrong. With that, here are the six topics we will address in this chapter: God’s Power Is Not Our Pleasure. God’s Promises Are Powerfully Fulfilled. Personal Sin Becomes A National Crisis. God’s Power Is Not Your Good Luck Charm. God’s Power Reveals Godless Corruption. God’s Judgement is Painful for Everyone. So get ready for a powerful chapter where we discover the God of all power. #MisusingDivinePower, #HarnessingGodsPower, #BiblicalWarnings Ask This: How do you discern between seeking God's power for personal gain versus aligning yourself with His will and purposes? In what areas of your life do you find yourself tempted to misuse or manipulate God's power for your own desires, and how can you realign your perspective to honor His sovereignty and wisdom? Do This: Don't misuse God's power. Pray This: Lord, help me surrender my desires for personal gain and align my heart with Your will, recognizing Your sovereignty over all things. Grant me wisdom to use Your power in accordance with Your purposes so that I may honor You in all aspects of my life. Amen. Play This: In Christ Alone.

When God is silent no more! 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 19-21, which states: And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 3:19-21 This passage describes Samuel's character. After receiving guidance from the Lord, he experienced spiritual growth and matured. The presence of the Lord was evident with him, in stark contrast to Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas. Furthermore, his words carried weight; people listened and remembered when he spoke. As a result, his reputation grew and surpassed others in his time, spanning from Dan to Beersheba, which is like saying from San Francisco to New York. We are given four distinct characteristics of Samuel. There are four things we could aim for as a follower. Receptivity to Spiritual Growth. Intimacy with the Lord. Speaking the Unforgettable Word. Reputation that Advanced. Most men want the fourth item without doing the other three. We want a reputation without putting in the hard work of being receptive, intimate, and teaching the Word. This is mainly because we confuse our fame with God's fame. It's not about our fame and reputation that we need to promote, but about advancing God's fame and His reputation. The chapter and book serve as something other than a self-help guide on how to become a great leader from the perspective of someone who was a great leader. Instead, the book focuses on how God used a man to usher in a new season for the people of Israel. It's worth noting that in times of crisis, God's initial response to a nation is not to send a political leader but to communicate His Word through a man. I believe God is looking for this man right now in our time: one who is receptive to growth, intimate with him, speaks his truth and is concerned about His fame, not his own. This is what we need. Are you that man? #GodSpeaksThroughMen, #SamuelEffect, #ReceptiveLeadership Ask This: Following Samuel's example, How can we cultivate a deeper receptivity to spiritual growth in our lives? How can we prioritize advancing God's fame over our reputation in our daily interactions and leadership roles? Do This: Be God's man: a receptive, intimate man of His Word. Pray This: Lord, help me to be like Samuel—receptive to Your guidance, intimate with You, and bold in speaking Your truth, all for the glory of Your name. May Your fame be my foremost concern as I seek to lead and influence others by Your will. Amen.

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.

What do you do when God speaks and says something you don't like? 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 11-14, it reads: Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” — 1 Samuel 3:11-14 Samuel is not just receiving any communication but direct communication from God. Let that sink in. Samuel is hearing the voice of the Lord in the house of the Lord from the Lord Himself—inspiring and humbling. Four Realities About God's Voice To Man But I want to pause briefly and state four realities about this experience. First, every believer, at some point, wishes they could have an experience like this with God. Second, some think they are hearing God's voice when they are not. Third, others say they have heard God's voice and use it to coerce or control others. Fourth, and this is the vital point. You can hear from God and speak to God all the time. We hear from God in his Word. We are directed by God by his Spirit. We hear from God through other believers who are also in God's Word and led by the Spirit. We can speak with God in prayer, and God gives divine direction through events around us. You can have a very lively, vibrant, real communication with God all the time. This is one of the benefits of the Cross: Jesus made it possible for us all to access God at any time and anywhere (Eph. 3:11-12, Luke 23:44-47, John 14:6-7). When God Speaks, And You Don't Like It The startling issue of this communication from God is that it was a divine message with a damning message. God told young Samuel that his mentor, the High Priest of Israel, and his family would no longer have their sins atoned. That's eternal damnation by God. The message is "You are going to Hell." So, let me make an observation: God speaks a lot, but we don't listen. God's Word is His spoken word. If you want to hear from God, all you have to do is read His Word. In His Word, God has things to say about everything, but especially about you—your life, sin, vocation, family, finances, marriage, identity, and holiness. But here's the problem: When we read God's Word and hear his message, we don't like what he says because God demands a change. He is Holy, and we are not. This means that his message to us is not always positive and predictive but frequently painful because God demands change. By chapter three, two men—Eli and Samuel—had heard from God. Eli and his sons were given plenty of time to hear and change. They didn't, so they were damned. But, now it's Samuel's turn to hear from the Lord. Will he embrace the discomfort and deliver the message, or not? We will see... But what about you? Do you want to hear from the Lord? If so, gird up your loins. Embrace the discomfort. Do what God says. This is what it is like for a fallen creature to hear from the Creator of all Humanity. God, help us be courageous today. Please speak to us, and may we hear your truth, embrace the discomfort, and do what you demand. Amen. #GodsVoice, #DivineCall, #CourageousObedience Ask This: How can we discern between our own desires and God's voice when faced with challenging decisions or messages? In what areas of our lives are we resisting God's call for change, and how can we cultivate a willingness to embrace discomfort and obedience? Do This: Embrace the discomfort and do what God says. Pray This: Lord, grant me the courage to listen attentively to your voice, even when it challenges me to change. Help me embrace discomfort and walk in obedience, trusting in your wisdom and guidance. Amen. Play This: The Truth.

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 isneeded. 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.

Do you want to increase how you hear God's voice? 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 2-7, which states: At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. — 1 Samuel 3:2-7 Two Contrasts This section has two fascinating contrasts. First, there's a striking contrast between aging Eli's failing eyesight lying in darkness in his own place and young Samuel resting in the Temple near the ark under the evening lamp. The author wants us to see the strong contrast between the two men at this moment. One man is on his way out of the leadership, and the other is on his way in. Second, we encounter the phrase, "Samuel did not yet know the Lord." This line echoes the declaration made about Hophni and Phineas in the previous chapter, "They did not know the Lord." However, the distinction lies in their reasons: Eli's sons rejected the Lord, whereas Samuel hadn't yet had a personal encounter with Him. The word "yet" in the text promises future revelation: "Samuel did not yet know the Lord." Many of you know what happens next in the story. It's pretty spectacular. Four Principles for Tuning Into God's Voice But for now, let me suggest four great principles we can glean from this text for tuning into God's voice. Principle One | Put Yourself In Proximity To God. God is speaking. He has something to say to you about your present situation. But if you are not in proximity to God, like Eli, who is weary and in his own place rather than in the house of the Lord, it will be harder to hear his voice. Physical and spiritual proximity play a part in hearing from God. This means you have to stop being resistant to the Church and God and move closer to both. Let me make this simple and practical: Go to church this week. Stop being so judgmental about the program, people, praise, and preaching, and instead listen to what God is trying to say only to you through the program, people, praise, and preaching. I bet you hear God speak in a way you have not heard him speak in a while. Principle Two | Disobedience Hinders Hearing God. Hophni and Phineas were disobedient men and spiritual leaders who did not know the Lord because they did not listen to the Lord. So, if you live in disobedience to the Lord, don't expect to hear from the Lord. It's impossible to hear from the Lord in disobedience because you are not listening to the Lord but to the Enemy of the Lord. You cannot listen and act on what the Enemy says to do and expect to hear from the Lord. That logic doesn't work. PrincipleThree | Obedience Enhances Hearing God. When we are obedient to God, this will enhance the connection to God. As John Hammis once wrote: When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. — John Hammis, Trust and Obey. Principle Four | The More You Listen & Obey, The More You Know God. As the text states, "Samuel did not yet know the Lord." But once he learned to listen, he would remember his voice and know the Lord more and more. The same is true with us. The more we listen and obey God, the better we hear him and the more we know Him. If we continue listening and obeying, we willknow him and hear from him more and more. So, commit to drawing closer to God. Get to know Him. Increase your reception by being in proximity, ending disobedience, and living in obedience. Tune into the whispers and get to know the Lord. He has the guidance and comfort you want and need. #ListenAndObey, #DivineWhispers, #SpiritualReception Ask This: How can you intentionally create space in your life to draw closer to God and hear His voice more clearly? Reflecting on times of disobedience and obedience in your life, what changes can you make today to enhance your receptivity to God's guidance and direction? Do This: Choose one of the four principles above and do it. Pray This: Lord, help me draw near to You with an open heart, eagerly listening for Your voice amidst the noise of life. Guide me to obedience and deeper intimacy with You so that I may walk closely with You and know You more fully each day. Amen. Play This: Trust and Obey.

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 From Boy to Prophet 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. Into Silence God Speaks 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. Navigating Silence: Navigating times when God is silent (3:1) Increasing Reception: What prevents us from hearing God's voice (3:2-7) Recognizing His Voice: Learning to recognize God’s voice (3:8-10) Painful Messages: When we recognize God's voice but don't like the message (3:11-14) Telling the Message: Telling others what God has told us (3:15-18) 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 Ask This: 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? 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? Do This: Ready your heart and ears to hear from God. Pray This: 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. Play This: I'm Listening.

You never age out of spiritual leadership. 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: Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. — 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Then, jumping down to verses 31-35, a man of God comes to Eli and delivers a message from God. Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men. And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. — 1 Samuel 2:31-35 An Old Spiritual Leader There are some interesting details in both of these texts. Eli was very old. In fact, according to 1 Samuel 4:15, he was 98 years old. This suggests that he may have been out of touch with what was happening with his sons and their spiritual leadership. However, he eventually learned about their involvement in two forms of serious corruption. Using their power and position for personal gain. Using their power and position for sexual exploits. What you have are two boys who feel entitled and have become especially egregious in their behavior. But what makes these sins egregious is that they interfere with God's sacrifices and in his house, and the boys just simply don't care. Then Eli's "why" is as close as he gets to calling them to repentance. He approaches them like a helpless old man and father who has washed his hands of them. In addition, we know the boys are going to dismiss his extremely soft interrogation. An Indictment The most startling part of this text and chapter is the indictment by God in verse 25: "for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death." The boys had gone too far. Most of us reading this text don't like to hear this. But it's a serious mistake to assume that these boys and their stubborn, entitled, sacrilegious, and hard hearts should be blamed on God. The hardness of their hearts was their choice, and thus, we see God's judgment for that choice. And given what I read here, Eli should have been a little more engaged in guiding them to repentance. However, what is particularly interesting about this whole situation is that we never get the impression that Eli was a wicked priest. On the surface, he seems to be presented as a fairly "good" guy, but the way he deals with his sons and stewards the house of the Lord at the end of his life is not good. He is simply too old and lacks the fortitude to deal with his son's wicked conduct, which is not good. But when one father fails to do his job, another takes over. God, the Father of his nation, inserts himself where Eli fails to lead. An Ageless Responsibility This is an important message for fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. The spiritual leadership of your family never ends. There is no time in your life when you age out or retire from giving your family spiritual correction and guidance. You cannot simply wash your hands of giving needed spiritual correction and direction. Sometimes, you need to muster some fortitude and call your family to repentance because you love them. It's not loving as a father to let them face judgment from the Heavenly Father. So, what sins do you need to address in your family, and how are you going to do it? #SpiritualLeadership #FamilyFaith #LegacyofFaith Ask This: How can you emulate Eli's initial concern and engagement with your family's spiritual well-being, despite any challenges or discomfort it may entail? Reflecting on the consequences of Eli's passive approach, how can you actively cultivate a culture of repentance and spiritual growth within your family, fostering open dialogue and accountability? Do This: Never stop leading. Pray This: Heavenly Father, grant me the wisdom and courage to lead my family in the paths of righteousness, never shrinking from the responsibility to guide them closer to You. Help me to embody Your steadfast love and discipline, nurturing a home filled with grace, repentance, and growth in faith. Amen. Play This: Confidence.

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: How can you prioritize spiritual investment in your children's lives amidst the busyness of daily routines? 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.

Have you checked your greed lately? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today, I will read verses 13-17. The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. — 1 Samuel 2:13-17 Unethical Conduct In The Priesthood This text reveals a troubling reality of religious corruption and entitlement within the priesthood. Eli's sons, who served as priests, abused their authority for personal gain. Their actions weren't just selfish; they were sacrilegious. While priests were entitled to a portion of the sacrifices after they were presented, the sons of Eli went far beyond what was acceptable. Instead of honoring God's regulations, they exploited their position to snatch the best portions of the sacrifices being prepared by the worshippers. Imagine making preparations for your best offering to God, only to have it forcibly taken by one of the priest's servants. For worshippers, these sacrifices were deeply meaningful acts of devotion. Yet, Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons, showed no regard for the sacredness of these offerings. They intruded on families while their meat was cooking, taking what they desired and even demanding raw meat for themselves before the fat was burned—an act directly contrary to God's instructions. Their behavior was reprehensible, driven by greed and a blatant disregard for God. Unregulated Selfishness Can Become Sacrilegious Greed So, what do we learn? Every man, including spiritual leaders, can succumb to the temptation of selfish gain. If unchecked, it can spiral into insatiable narcissism and sacrilege, elevating oneself above God. Today, let's examine our own lives. Are there areas where selfishness or greed are taking root? Left unaddressed, they can lead us down a path of wickedness. Let's strive to regulate our desires and align them with God's will, guarding against the allure of selfish gain. #GuardAgainstGreed #SacrilegeInService #SpiritualLeadership Ask This: Reflect on a time when you were tempted to prioritize personal gain over honoring God and others. How did you navigate that situation, and what lessons did you learn from it? In what areas of your life do you see the potential for selfishness or greed to creep in? How can you actively guard against these tendencies and align your desires with God's will? Do This: Check your greed today. Pray This: Lord, help me to recognize and resist the allure of selfish gain, guiding me to honor You in all that I do. Grant me the strength and wisdom to align my desires with Your will, that I may serve You faithfully and with integrity. Amen. Play This: Greed.

Are you ready to compensate for lost time as a husband, wife, father, or mother? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today, I will read two texts that illustrate this contrast again. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. — 1 Samuel 1:16 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:12 Worthless Sons The word "worthless" here is harsh and vivid. It's Belial, which could be translated as Hannah being the "daughter of the Devil" or, in the case of Eli's boys, "sons of the Devil." The irony in the text is unmistakable. Eli indicts Hannah as worthless when his sons are the worthless ones. Eli is a man, father, and leader with extremely clouded judgment. He easily indicts an innocent, humble, and devout woman and misses the judgment passed onto him by his sons, who serve as spiritual leaders but "do not know the Lord." Too Late To Build Worth In my years of ministry, I have noticed that many believing men, like Eli, do not learn the burden of their roles as husbands, fathers, and spiritual leaders soon enough. They love the title and experiences of these roles but fail to see their spiritual significance. Therefore, later in life, they have regrets about the spiritual disposition of their wives, children, and even themselves. Some men believe it's too late to rectify the lost time and the ministry required to have a spiritual impact on their lives. But it's never too late. God can redeem anything and anyone at any point in life, and there are plenty of examples throughout the Bible. Had Eli stepped in and even stepped up a little, which he didn't, he could have turned his sons from worthless to worthy. See The Worthy One For this to happen in your life and your family, you have to stop dwelling on the past, lost time, and all your regrets. You need to stop focusing on yourself and focus on God's worth. God has endless worth, infinitely more than all your worthless years and every worthless regret. So, if you are a father, mother, husband, or wife, don't give up yet. Don't quit. Look again at Elkanah and Hannah. They never quit believing, obeying, trusting, and offering, even through their deep vexations. Then God provided and turned their sense of worthlessness into great worth. #RedeemingLostTime #FamilyRestoration #GodsRedemption Ask This: Reflecting on Eli's missed opportunities as a father and leader, what steps can you take today to prioritize your spiritual influence within your family? Considering Hannah and Elkanah's faith transformation amidst challenges, how can you cultivate a mindset of unwavering trust in God's ability to redeem and renew your family's story? Do This: See God's worth and spiritually lead! Pray This: Lord, help me release the weight of past regrets and embrace Your redeeming grace. Empower me to lead my family with wisdom, humility, and unwavering faith. Grant me the strength and perseverance to journey forward, trusting in Your ability to restore and renew all things according to Your perfect plan. Amen. Play This: Family.

Do you know a woman who is a spiritual warrior? 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. We begin this chapter with Hannah, a woman, wife, and mother who stood on the side of God. This section is called Hannah's Prayer, and I am not going to read the whole prayer, but I do encourage you to read it. I will read the first verse of this prayer. 1 Samuel 2:1 reads And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. — 1 Samuel 2:1 Her prayer is powerful. It read more like a war cry than that of a prayer by a barren housewife. And I love that we have a record of this. You see, we need godly women like this. Women who are fully committed to the Lord. Women who have been tested by life but relentlessly hold on in faith. Women who go to war in prayer for their families. Women that perceive their roles as wives and mothers as one of the most important vocational callings they will ever have in this life. Contrary to all the modern beliefs about women and their roles, Hannah understands and models what womanhood is supposed to look like. It oozes out of her in this prayer. She fights for her faith and battles in prayer for her family because she wants them all to know victory in the Lord. Later, we see how great her victory was. God not only gave her one son—Samuel—but gave her many. 1 Samuel 2:21 reads 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 2:21 If you are a woman listening today, I want you to know that believing men like us need believing women like you. We need you to war with us in the way only you can. And for the men listening today, you need to support your wife in her spiritual calling. Like Elkanah, you need to love her, nourish her, support her, and listen to her, for she is a woman who cries out in war for your legacy. #HannahsPrayer #SpiritualWarfare #WarriorWomen ASK THIS: How can we emulate Hannah's fervent prayer life in our own spiritual journey, especially in times of difficulty or uncertainty? In what practical ways can husbands support and encourage their wives in their spiritual calling, following Elkanah's example of love and support for Hannah? DO THIS: Support warrior women who are faithful to God. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the strength and faith of Hannah, to boldly stand in prayer and unwavering commitment to You, trusting in Your faithfulness to bring victory in my life and family. Help me, Lord, to honor and support the women in my life as they courageously walk in their God-given roles, striving for Your kingdom's sake. Amen. PLAY THIS: Warrior.

Are you taking a spiritual lead? Do you even know what this means? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are looking at 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 shows the contrast between the two families—one for God and one against God. But the family against God is surprising; it's a religious leader and his family. Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:12 The contrast between Elkanah's family and Eli's family is remarkable. In the first chapter, we see a devout family. In the second chapter, we see a corrupt family. The first family is blessed. The second family is cursed. One becomes salvation for the people of God. The other leads to sacrilege and shame in the house of the Lord forever. If you are a father, mother, or spiritual leader in any capacity today and you read Chapters 1-2, you will observe something that cannot be ignored or missed. Your devotion to God and the spiritual leadership of your family are critical all the days of your life. Men, you need to lead your family spiritually. If you are not leading them spiritually, then you're not leading. Here's the problem I see evident in the lives of numerous believing. Most men and fathers concern themselves with mere material matters when it comes to their life and their families. They focus primarily on matters of financial provision and personal success. Then, they pass on this same burden and concern to their wives and children. Either directly or indirectly, they focus all their time and attention on matters of material success and appearance: educational excellence, athletic success, social status, and financial independence. Yet, I do want to recognize that excellence, success, status, and independence are necessary in some capacity. However, when that is all we ever concern ourselves with, these matters become all-consuming until we and our family finally bow to the gods of excellence, success, status, and independence, which at some point become corrupted by our selfish desires. This is precisely what happens with Eli and his worthless sons in Chapter 2. Eli has let go of the reigns of spiritual leadership. In my years of ministry to men, I have noticed that most believing men don't know how to lead spiritually. They don't even know what this means. They don't know how to lead themselves spiritually. Thus, they feel ill-equipped to lead their family spiritually. This deadly cycle of self-disqualification leads to spiritual insecurities that keep men from taking confident steps in the Spirit to lead. What happens is sin, selfishness, and vanity take over, and now the problem is so significant they don't know what to do. This happens a lot in believing families. Men, you are called to provide for your family. But there is a provision far more important than the natural provision you provide. It's spiritual provision, and you don't provide it. A heavenly Father provides it, but you must lead your family to him. If you are not pointing them to the Father who is their Provider, then you are providing your family with nothing but futile and natural resources that will not last, and at some point, will let them down. So today, point your wife and children to God. Lead them spiritually. Here are some actions you could take: Text them a verse from God's Word. Pray over them in person or by phone. Guide them through a problem and give them sound spiritual direction. You are called and commanded to do this all the days of your life. And don't do nothing. If you do nothing, you are no better than Eli. Soon, you will see the fate of a believing father who does nothing and who goes down in the chronicles of God's Word forever as a failed spiritual leader with worthless sons. Don't be that guy. #SpiritualLeadership #FamilyFaith #MenOfGod ASK THIS: Reflecting on your role as a spiritual leader, what specific actions can you take today to intentionally lead your family closer to God? How can you shift your focus from worldly success to spiritual growth within your family, and what practical steps can you implement to prioritize spiritual provision over material provision? DO THIS: Lead spiritually. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom and courage to lead my family spiritually, guiding them closer to You each day. Help me prioritize their souls over worldly success, and empower me to exemplify Your love and grace in all I do. Amen. PLAY THIS: Lead Me.

Are you struggling to trust God's plan for your life? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, Samuel, and today the Lord. Today, verses 26-28. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” — 1 Samuel 1:26-28 1 Samuel 1 is not primarily about Hannah, Elkanah, or even Samuel. It is primarily about the Lord. This chapter may begin with God caring for Hannah and providing for her in her distress, bareness, and shame, but as we will see, in caring for Hannah, the Lord also cared for all of Israel. What he did for Hannah was not exclusively for Hannah. Unfortunately, this is how many want to read and understand the story because we want a God who saves us from our unique problems. We want a God who bows to serve and save us from our every need. But in this situation, God was not just serving and saving Hannah but all of Israel. Through one child, he provided an immediate path through their social unrest and hinted about another child who would save the world from all sin—Jesus. This is an essential lesson in divine providence. Sometimes, we understand acts of God as acts done only for us. This is a very arrogant assumption. The things God does might be done to us and might bring us pleasure, but they are not done only for us nor to please our will. They are done for his will at his pleasure and to accomplish his plan. God may do things for you that look like they are only for you, but usually, God has a greater plan in play. This is what Hannah understands in this statement at the end of chapter one. She even hints to Eli that he may not understand, but Samuel is one "lent" who will lend a hand in God's plan. Samuel's time has come to spend the rest of his days serving the Lord. I want you to know today that God does care about you, but he doesn't only care about you. He cares about all his children. This means that your life, will, plan, vision, and even your aspirations are not the only ones at play. God's will will win the day. Hannah understood this. She had her will, but then there was God's will. He provided for her, but then she did not get in the way of God's will. By doing so, she, her son, and her family became a beautiful part of the story of God. (Which, by the way, will stand in contrast to Eli and his sons in the coming chapters). The ultimate application of chapter one is this: God is at the center of the story. Don't let your will get in the way of God's will. See the connection of your story to his and become a beautiful part of the most remarkable story ever told. #DivineProvidence #SurrenderedFaith #GodsPlan ASK THIS: How can we cultivate a mindset of surrender, trusting that God's will surpasses our own desires and plans? In what areas of our lives do we struggle the most to align our will with God's will, and what steps can we take to surrender those areas fully to Him? DO THIS: Live in the will of the greatest story ever told. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to trust in Your divine providence and surrender my will to Yours, recognizing that Your plans for me are far greater than I can imagine. Guide me to align my desires with Your purpose and to become a beautiful part of Your remarkable story. Amen. PLAY THIS: God Is In This Story.

Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of parenting or leadership? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, and today Samuel. Today, we will be at the end of the chapter in verses 23-28. Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” — 1 Samuel 1:23-28 So I have several observations from this text: Dedicated as Lent First, Elkanah is presented as diligent and devout. He diligently makes his annual trips to the Tabernacle. In addition, he also affirmed his wife’s right to make commitments to God, and he wants to support her in fulfilling these vows even though it will cost him a firstborn son from the wife he loves. In addition, the sacrifice he brings to the Tabernacle is sizeable, generous, and even lavish. A side note: husbands, you need to look for ways to support your wife's spiritual calling, especially when it honors the Lord. Prepared as Lent Second, Hannah is given only three precious years with her only biological son. From the day Samuel was conceived, Hannah knew her time with the "one God lent" (Samuel) would be short. Therefore, these years were preparation years for Samuel until he was lent back. As another side note: all believing parents would be blessed to think about their children in the same way, as ones being lent and prepared for an interdependent relationship in service to the Lord. Given as Lent Third, and one of the most intriguing aspects of this passage, is the wordplay in Hannah's statement. The phrases: 'granted me my petition,' 'I made,' 'I have lent him,' and 'he is lent' all stem from the same Hebrew word 'to ask,' which directly relates to the meaning of Samuel's name. This connection underscores the divine providence in Samuel's birth and Hannah's act of dedicating him to the Lord. Samuel's early years are marked by a unique perspective. He was one lent to them who would be lent back to God for a lifelong Nazarite vow. For a moment, consider how a perspective like this would change how you think about everything. Consider how it might affect how you parent, prepare, live, and give. Without a doubt, this child changed Elkanah and Hannah forever. I have three grown children now. Each has required a different type of leadership, direction, encouragement, and challenge. Thinking about how to lead them through their challenges has changed me as a father. Sometimes, it has been frustrating, but God has used each to shape and form my perspective as a father, husband, man, and leader. In some ways, God has used them to influence me, just like God used Samuel to influence his parents. But this only happened when I was willing to pay attention to the divine Father parenting me as I parent them. If you feel a little frustrated today as a parent or leader, try paying more attention to God's divine providence and plan. Worry less about what you want and pay attention to what God wants. When we align with God's divine plan, like Elkanah and Hannah did, the decisions along the way are a lot easier because many of them are already made. #ParentingWithPurpose #LentToTheLord #DivineParenting ASK THIS: How can you actively support and encourage your spouse's spiritual journey, as Elkanah did for Hannah, even when it requires personal sacrifice? Reflect on your role as a parent or leader. How might viewing your children or those you lead as lent to you by God influence your approach to guiding, nurturing, and preparing them for their own unique journey of faith and service? DO THIS: Get a new perspective from the Father. PRAY THIS: Father, help me emulate Elkanah's faithfulness and Hannah's surrender as I navigate my role as a parent, spouse, and leader, trusting in Your divine plan for those entrusted to my care. Guide me to recognize and embrace the opportunities to align my will with Yours, knowing that Your purposes far exceed mine. Amen. PLAY THIS: Changed.

Ready to break free from those negative influences? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, and today Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. I will read a single verse today that quickly references these two men. It's verse three. Now [Elkanah] used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 1:3 Hophni and Phinehas remain obscure in this text but become essential to Samuel's backstory. We will learn more about these two malicious, devious, and worthless sons when we get into chapter two. When you discover their character, you will see a contrast between the fathers (Eli & Elkanah) and their sons (Hophni, Phinehas, and Samuel). As expected, social and parental influences significantly shape the sons mentioned in this story. Samuel's spiritual trajectory is much different than that of Hophni and Phinehas. But as Samuel grows, we will see his tender heart toward God and his willingness to listen to God shape his leadership and life more and more. Today, this made me think of all the parents and people who have influenced my life—some good, some bad, some spiritual, some secular. But as I have matured, I have also learned that I bear a burden. It is a burden to listen to the right parents and the right people. The best part is that it's easy to learn who to listen to because I have a Father. He is the best Father because he is the Father of all mankind. If I listen to this Father, I will find the most fulfillment and purpose in this life. That's the difference between the two fathers and the sons in this story. So, who are you listening to today? Are you listening to pop culture, popular media, posts on your socials, or to the Father who gives the best advice because he has your best interests in mind? #InfluenceMatters #ListenToTheFather #SpiritualTrajectory ASK THIS: Reflecting on your own life, who are the significant influencers shaping your spiritual journey? How can you discern which voices to listen to and which ones to filter out? Consider the contrast between the characters of Samuel and the sons of Eli. In what ways can you emulate Samuel's tender heart toward God and his willingness to listen despite the influences around you? DO THIS: Listen to your Father! PRAY THIS: Father, help me to discern Your voice amidst the multitude of influences in my life, guiding me toward fulfillment and purpose. Grant me the wisdom to listen to Your guidance above all others, shaping me into the person You desire me to be. Amen. PLAY THIS: I'm Listening.

Are your words building up or tearing down? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel, and we are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, and today Eli, Israel's judge and priest. I am going to read verses 9-17, which pick up on this interaction between Hannah and Eli. After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” — 1 Samuel 1:9-17 Eli is an interesting character in Samuel's story. I really don't want to give too much away yet because you are going to get more to his story in the next four chapters, concluding with his tragic death, resulting from a fall from his chair. So, I want to hold off on giving you too much detail. But in this immediate text, we do catch a glimpse of Eli's character. We see that he is quick to make a judgment about a very humble and reverent woman. Who knows exactly why he does this, but he does, and I think this is a little interesting because he is supposed to be a judge. Most theologians consider him to be one of the final judges of Israel. Below is a sequential list of the judges of Israel if you want to see them: Othniel - 40 years (Judges 3:7-11) Ehud - 80 years (Judges 3:12-30) Shamgar - Time unspecified (Judges 3:31) Deborah and Barak - 40 years (Judges 4:1-5:31) Gideon - 40 years (Judges 6:1-8:35) Abimelech - 3 years (Judges 9:22) Tola - 23 years (Judges 10:1-2) Jair - 22 years (Judges 10:3-5) Jephthah - 6 years (Judges 10:6-12:7) Ibzan - 7 years (Judges 12:8-10) Elon - 10 years (Judges 12:11-12) Abdon - 8 years (Judges 12:13-15) Samson - 20 years (Judges 13:1-16:31) Eli - Not explicitly called a judge. Served as a high priest and judge during this time. Time unspecified (1 Samuel 1:9-4:18) Samuel - The final judge to transition Israel from judges to kings. Regardless, Eli's time marks the beginning of the end. As we will see, one of his failings was his lack of leadership as a father, which was a big black mark on his record as a priest and judge. Yet, we have to give him a little bit of credit because he does extend an important blessing to Hannah. This blessing would result in a son—Samuel. He would soon be conceived, born, raised, and ironically mentored by Eli, replacing him and ending the time of the judges. Isn't it interesting that the cursing and blessing come from the same mouth? My mouth has great power to speak amazing truths about Jesus that can lead people to Christ. At the same time, my mouth can speak sarcastic and hurtful things that wound other people. In addition, the older I get, the more I see the effect of my words. I was just telling my wife the other day that our three children speak the way they do to each other sometimes because of my biting sarcasm. And now, when I watch them do what I do, I don't like it because I know it can be taken too far and can wound others. At the same time, I am still humbled by how God uses my mouth to affect other people spiritually. There are testimonies I have heard time and time again from others about things I have said that have forever affected their lives. It's amazing that my mouth can have a powerful effect in both ways. It's sobering and humbling at the same time. But this is true with you, too. Just like it was for Eli. Do me a favor: Speak a blessing. Speak a blessing to your wife, children, friend, neighbor, or peer. And when you do say it with meaning. Look them in the eyes. Make sure you have their attention. Speak it clearly and see if God doesn't alter your impact. #BlessingAndCursing #PowerOfWords #SpeakLife ASK THIS: Reflecting on Eli's initial judgment of Hannah, how can we guard against making quick assumptions about others, especially in moments of distress or vulnerability? Considering the impact of our words, how can we intentionally use our speech to bless and uplift those around us, fostering a culture of encouragement and positivity in our relationships? DO THIS: Speak a blessing to someone today. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to be mindful of the power of my words, that I may speak blessings and encouragement to others, reflecting Your love and grace in all I say and do. Grant me wisdom to use my speech to build up and inspire those around me, just as You bless and guide me each day. Amen. PLAY THIS: I Speak Jesus.

Do you need provision from God in a present trial? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and have just begun chapter one. The first chapter's theme is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: Elkanah, Peninnah, and today, Hannah. We are jumping down to verses 9-11. Hannah has slipped away from the family while in Shiloh and is headed to the Tabernacle by herself to pray. The text reads: After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” — 1 Samuel 1:9-11 Two things about Hannah stand out to me: her character and her commitment. Character First, Hannah has remarkable character. This account presents her as a humble wife, mother, and follower who is faithful from beginning to end. She is faithful through emotional distress, doubt, and mistreatment. She never gives up on what she believes God can do in her baren situation. She is inspirational because many people would have given up on God by now. Even Sarah gave up. She laughed at God. But not Hannah. She makes another trip to the Tabernacle year after year, even though Peninnah disdains her and Eli degrades her. Some believers are not properly prepared for this part of the spiritual journey—the long waits. We wrongly believe that the spiritual life should be easy and we should get quick answers from God. But this is not how it always works. Sometimes, it comes with long waits. In these times, what is required is faithfulness. That is how Hannah models faithfulness in a very long period of distress. Commitment Second, notice Hannah's commitment to God in her vow. This is a great vow, and I will show you why. But first, let's make sure we understand what a vow is. In the Old Testament, a vow was a solemn promise made to God. It was made on three occasions: in response to a blessing received by God, in a desperate situation calling on God, or in an act of devotion to God. When we think about vows today, we typically think about marital vows, which don't have the same weight they used to because we have subtracted God from them. Vows were made to God. They were taken very seriously and permanently binding as a vow to God should be. When God makes a vow to man, he makes good on it, and when we make a vow to God, we should make good on it. There were a few examples of these in the Old Testament: Nazirite Vow: The Nazirite vow is described in Numbers 6:1-21. It involved a period of consecration during which an individual abstained from alcohol, avoided contact with the dead, and refrained from cutting their hair. This vow was often taken for a specific period as an expression of dedication and devotion to God. This vow appears a little later in this chapter. Jacob's Vow: After Jacob has a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22), he makes a vow to God, promising to give a tenth of all he receives and to worship God faithfully if God will be with him, protect him, and provide for his needs. Jephthah's Vow: Jephthah, a judge of Israel, makes an infamous vow to God (Judges 11:30-31), promising to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house if God grants him victory in battle. Unfortunately, he does win, and the first thing he sees exiting his home when he returns is his daughter, his only child. Hannah's Vow: In this text. Here's what I love about Hannah's vow. It is potent. It is the promise to give to God what Hannah has longed for her whole life. It is what is most precious to her that she doesn't presently have. Hannah vows to give up to God, the one thing she has always wanted. But she's not just giving up a child. She is agreeing to give up raising him. She is giving up her family continuity. She is giving her unconceived son to the Lord for a lifetime. That is a big deal. This is a potent vow, and she makes good on it. If you are paying attention to what I said, this sounds like God's covenant promise to Abraham in the divine son that was to come—his Son, Jesus. At least I hear echoes in her vow to God with God's vow to us. Then this happens: Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” — 1 Samuel 1:17-20 I love this phrase: "And her face was no longer sad." Because you see, Hannah knows! She knows what's about to happen before she leaves the Tabernacle grounds. She knows that God is going to provide. Then she goes home and "knows" her husband, and soon after comes Samuel, her only son, whom she "asked for from the Lord." What makes this story incredible is how the long test and extended trial prove Hannah's character and reveal her commitment. Of course, God's provision in the end is awesome, but together, this makes for an amazing story even before we see all that this child Samuel is going to do. What you and I tend to want is God's provision. But we want his provision quick and easy. We want it without the test and the trials, which do nothing to give us the character and commitment we need to handle the provision that he wants to give. So consider this question today: What's your test or trial? Then, after you identify that trial, ask yourself: What character and commitment does God want for me? Then, finally, bring that character and commitment to God, and you will know the God that Hannah knew at that moment. Then go in peace and know the joy of the Lord today. #TrustInGod #FaithfulInTrials #PrayerfulPersistence ASK THIS: How can you emulate Hannah's unwavering faithfulness and commitment in your own life, especially during times of waiting and uncertainty? Reflecting on Hannah's story, what areas of your life require a deeper level of trust in God's provision, and how can you cultivate that trust through prayer and perseverance? DO THIS: Build your character and commitment in the trial. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to trust in Your provision and remain faithful in the midst of trials, just as Hannah did. Strengthen my character and commitment as I wait upon You, knowing that Your timing is perfect and Your promises are true. Amen. PLAY THIS: Whatever Your Plan Is.

Is there a rivalry holding you back? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a brand new series on 1 Samuel, and we have just begun chapter one. The theme of the first chapter is the six people who influenced Samuel's life. The first is Elkanah, Samuel's father. The second is Peninnah, Samuel's second wife. Before we read the text, let's set the stage for Peninnah. We know little about her, but her actions in verses 4-8 reveal a lot about her character and the dynamics of her relationship with Hannah. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” — 1 Samuel 1:4-8 For context, it's crucial to note that during Elkanah's time, the place of sacrifice was in Shiloh, about fifteen miles north of their town. This was where the Tabernacle resided, as the Temple had not yet been constructed. This detail indicates Elkanah's devoutness, faithfully adhering to the command to go up to the Tabernacle for annual sacrifices. However, it's evident from the text that Elkanah shows favoritism toward Hannah over Peninnah. He seems unaware of the impact this has on their relationship, which is characteristic of many men. Sometimes, God-fearing men make decisions without considering their long-term effects. While Elkanah and Hannah likely decided together to find a concubine to bear children, they were evidently unprepared for the relational, emotional, and spiritual repercussions. One consequence is the escalating tension between the two wives, a complication of polygamy, with Peninnah becoming a rival, as the text describes. What strikes me about Peninnah's character is her propensity to provoke Hannah. She is mean-spirited, likely fueled by jealousy over Elkanah's greater love for Hannah. When love is unevenly distributed, it breeds contention and competition, leading to the kind of rivalry Peninnah incites. This contention escalated over time, taking an emotional and psychological toll on Hannah, evident in her bitter weeping and loss of appetite. It's intriguing how sin operates. When we act outside of God's will, sin's effects are insidious and far-reaching. One sinful act in a marriage can permeate every aspect of life, breeding bitterness, anger, regret, and sadness. And when someone in a marriage, like Peninnah, knows how to stoke that flame, it can rage into a consuming fire within us. If you are married and you feel this contention, don't add to it. What we need in marriage is not more rivalry and provoking. What Christian marriages need is more grace because we are both sinners who act sinfully and whose sin has a long-lasting effect. But back to the big picture. Samuel's family wasn't perfect. His father's sin led to a jealous wife who sowed rivalry within the family. Yet, despite this, God performed miracles, setting the stage for the birth of a new legacy. He opened Hannah's womb and gave them a biological child. Not just any child, but one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges. Maybe today, it's time for you to pray for the beginning of a new legacy—one beyond sin, rivalry, provoking, shame, and sadness. If so, come to the Temple, return to God, bring the sacrifice to him, and ask him to provide. Lord, we come before you, bringing all that we are—our sin and shame, our past, present, and future. We lay it all down at your feet. We humbly ask for your provision, knowing that we are unable to provide for ourselves. Amen. #InfluencesOfFaith #FamilyDynamics #GraceOverRivalry ASK THIS: Reflecting on the dynamics between Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah, how can we ensure that favoritism or comparison doesn't hinder our relationships with others, especially within our families? Considering the consequences of sin and rivalry within Samuel's family, what steps can we take to cultivate an atmosphere of grace and forgiveness in our own relationships, particularly in moments of tension or conflict? DO THIS: Mend any strained relationships. PRAY THIS: Lord, as I lay before you all that I am—my flaws, my struggles, and my hopes—I humbly ask for your guidance and grace to navigate the complexities of relationships with humility, forgiveness, and love. Amen. PLAY THIS: Lay It Down.

Do you feel small, like a nobody from nowhere? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a brand new series on 1 Samuel. As I mentioned yesterday, we will do an overview of the chapter on Mondays and then, for the following six days, a closer look at that chapter. The theme we are looking at in chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life. The first of these is Elkanah, his father. What's interesting about Elkanah is that he is a nobody from nowhere. We know little about him and his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, all named in the text. Here are verses 1-3. There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh. — 1 Samuel 1:1-3 What does stand out when we read this text is that Elkanah had two wives. This is such a glaring observation that we should probably address it. Many of you know he's not the only man in the Bible who had more than one wife. Several prominent men in the Old Testament, like Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others, had more than one wife. There were about three reasons for this: The first apparent reason is personal pleasure and power. Such was the case with Solomon and his over 700 concubines. Second, it's worth noting that in patriarchal societies, unmarried women faced significant challenges in providing for themselves. They were often uneducated and untrained and relied heavily on male family members like fathers, brothers, or husbands for support and protection. Unfortunately, when this was absent, it led to desperate measures, like turning to prostitution or slavery. Therefore, sometimes marriage was a way to rescue a woman, another reason some men had multiple wives. The third reason is the instance here. Elkanah and his first wife, Hannah, were unable to conceive. Therefore, they probably agreed to take another wife (which should sound familiar because Abraham and Sarah did the same thing). Thus, Elkanah took another wife for reasons of family continuity. What is interesting about polygamy is that the Bible does not expressly condemn it. But fellas, before you get any crazy ideas, the Bible is very clear about the prescription of a godly marital relationship: one man with one woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). Like Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah inherited problems that stemmed from their lack of faith. That's the bottom line of this situation. They lacked faith in believing God would provide, so they provided for themselves, which is what we do sometimes. When we don't have faith trusting God to provide, we try to provide for ourselves. And when we provide for ourselves, we incur the problems of providing for ourselves and not letting God provide. As we will see further down in chapter one, they incurred family tension, sexual insecurities, competition, contention, and shame. With this in mind, I would like to point out one tiny detail about Elkanah worth our attention: He is an Ephrathite. This area was later known as Bethlehem and became the birthplace of two other great men. This means the Prophet Samuel, King David, and the Messiah were all born in the same tiny, seemingly insignificant town and were great men in the great story of God. I love it when God does stuff like this. I would not put it past God for all three men to be born in the same location. Believers too often fail to see the opportunity for greatness in the small events of our lives. I know I do. With small seeds of faith in insignificant places and from apparent unimportant people, God can produce incredible things. So, if you feel insignificant, inconsequential, like you are standing at an impasse, instead of taking matters into your hands, hold on in faith. Cast your concerns to God. He sees things you do not. Trust in him. Don't get in his way. Great things are birthed in small seeds of faith. God, we bring our small seeds of faith to you today. We confess that, at times, we act like Elkanah, taking matters into our own hands. We recognize that your divine sight sees things that we cannot. Instead of doing things our way today, we are choosing to do them your way—by faith. Strengthen our faith and show us your ways. Do great things with us and through us. Amen. #FaithInSmallBeginnings #TrustGodsTiming #FindingPurpose ASK THIS: How can Elkanah's story inspire us to trust God's timing and provision in our own lives, especially when faced with challenges or uncertainties? In what areas of our lives do we tend to take matters into our own hands, like Elkanah did, instead of relying on God's guidance and provision? How can we surrender those areas to God and walk in faith instead of self-reliance? DO THIS: Pray for faith this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me trust in Your timing and provision, even when I feel insignificant or lost. Guide me to surrender my doubts and fears to You, believing that great things can be birthed from small seeds of faith. Amen. PLAY THIS: Give Me Faith.