Have you ever fallen flat on your face?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

In this chapter, King Saul is at rock bottom. He’s been abandoned by God, tormented by fear, and reduced to consulting a witch. His desperation is matched only by his hopelessness when Samuel’s spirit tells him the worst: there’s no escape. Tomorrow’s battle will end in his death. Here is how he responds to the news in 1 Samuel 28:20-25:

Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. — 1 Samuel 28:20-25

Saul crumples under the weight of the news, lying face down on the ground, paralyzed by fear and weakened from fasting. But what happens next is unexpected. The very woman he turned to in disobedience—the Witch of En-Dor—steps in to care for him compassionately. She risks her life again by preparing a meal to sustain him.

This is a strange scene. Saul, the chosen king of Israel, is reduced to eating a final meal prepared by a witch. It’s a sad and sobering reminder of what happens when we live without total dependence on God. Saul’s decisions led him to this moment. Step by step, he prioritized his pride over obedience, human approval over divine direction, and his desires over God’s will.

Staring death in the face should shift life into focus.

When we stare death in the face, life suddenly becomes crystal clear. We realize how brief our time is and how much our choices matter. Every funeral I’ve officiated has been a sobering reminder of this truth. We’re not thinking about our accomplishments, possessions, or accolades in those moments. Instead, we’re confronted with questions: What will be said of me, and where will I spend eternity?

Saul’s story is tragic because he had so many chances to turn back to God, but he didn’t. His pride, fear, and sin led him to a desperate, empty end. And here’s the thing: Saul didn’t have to finish life by falling on his face. Neither do you.

If you’re reading this today, it’s not too late. You still have the opportunity to surrender your life to Jesus and let Him rewrite your story. The brevity of life isn’t meant to paralyze us like it did Saul; it’s meant to wake us up. Jesus Christ came to give you new life—an eternal one filled with hope, forgiveness, and purpose. He gave His life on the cross for your sins, and He rose from the grave to conquer death for you.

But here’s the key: you have to make a decision. You must trust Him, let go of your pride and sin, and follow Him wholeheartedly. Don’t wait until it’s too late, like Saul.

If you feel God stirring in your heart today, I invite you to take that step. Pray this simple prayer:

“Jesus, I need You. I believe You died for my sins and rose again to give me life. Forgive me for my sins and take control of my life. I choose to follow You today and every day. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, you’ve just made the most important decision of your life. Let me know by leaving a comment below.

#EternalPerspective, #ChooseJesus, #LifeAndLegacy

1. Are you living in a way that reflects dependence on God or reliance on yourself?
2. What steps can you take today to prepare for eternity with Jesus?

Don't fall on your face.

Lord, help me see the brevity of life and turn to You with all my heart. I surrender my pride and choose to follow You today. Amen.

We Fall Down.

Is God not answering?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

King Saul is freaked out right now. God is not answering, and this is what he decides to do. 1 Samuel 28:8-9:

So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” — 1 Samuel 28:8-9

Saul is working very hard to ignore God’s silence!

Saul’s issue wasn’t that God wouldn’t answer; it was that God's silence was the answer. Saul had spent years hardening his heart through disobedience. His life was a string of compromises, and now, in desperation, he wants God to come through on his terms and timeline. But God’s silence was God's answer to Saul’s unrepentant heart.

Instead of addressing the core issue—his sin—Saul doubles down, disguises himself, disobeys God again, and seeks out a medium. He knew it was wrong; after all, he had banned necromancers from the land! But Saul wanted what he wanted, even if the means of a medium meant disobeying God again.

Isn’t that how we can act sometimes?

When we don’t get the answer we want—or no answer at all—we panic. We rush ahead, trying to make things happen our way. But sometimes, the silence is God’s way of pointing us to the core issue: our sin and disobedience. Often this is not the answer we want, but it is the one God wants.

So, if you’re in a season where God seems silent, ask yourself these four questions:

• Am I open to hearing His solution, or do I only want a quick solution?
• Am I seeking His will for my life or help for my immediate circumstances?
• Am I asking God to fix my situation or to refine my soul?
• Am I ready to accept His plan, or do I want Him to approve my plans?

#GodsTiming, #TrustInTheSilence, #ObedienceMatters

1. How do I typically respond when God seems silent? Do I seek His will or rush to my own solutions?
2. Is there any unaddressed sin or disobedience in my life that could hinder my connection with God?

Listen carefully in the silence.

Lord, help me to trust Your silence and seek Your will instead of rushing ahead with my own plans. Reveal any sin in my life that keeps me from hearing You clearly. Amen.

Trust In God.

Are you talking with the wrong people?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

King Saul is freaked out right now. He glared down at an inevitable war with his two great enemies, Achish and David. And in his despair, he will do exactly what he shouldn't. Let's read verses 6-7:

And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” — 1 Samuel 28:6-7

Are you talking with the wrong people?

Saul's fear drove him to desperation, and in that desperation, he made a devastating choice. This decision not only disobeyed God's orders (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) but also disobeyed his own order and reflected his unwillingness to listen to God in his anxiety and impatience.

We often do the same, don’t we? When life presses in and we feel anxious, we can seek answers in all the wrong places. We might turn to:

• People: People who have opinions that are opposed to God.
• Friends: Friends who only tell us what we want to hear.
• Feelings: Your own feelings that lead you astray.

So today, I want you to evaluate: Have you deafened your ears to God and turned to consulting the wrong people?

Instead, try this:

1. Talk with God in prayer about your issues.
2. Dig into God's Word by reading Scripture.
3. Seek counsel from God-fearing people.

Just so you know, consulting mediums are not the right medium.

#SeekGodFirst, #GodlyWisdom, #RightVoices

1. Who are you turning to for advice when you're anxious—God, His Word, or people who may lead you astray?
2. How can you ensure you listen to God's voice rather than letting fear guide your decisions?

Consult with God and his people.

Lord, help me to seek Your wisdom above all else and trust Your timing, even when I feel anxious or afraid. Guard my heart from turning to the wrong voices and guide me to listen to You alone. Amen.

God Who Listens.