DAILY DEVOTION: God Is Not a Genie

"Then Samuel said: 'So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me.'"

(1 Samuel 28:16-17, NKJV)

In ancient legends, genies, powerful spirits captured in bottles or lamps, could be summoned to do the bidding of men. Sometimes, people want God to act like a genie, to show up on command and do our bidding.

Saul treated God that way. He repeatedly disobeyed God. Then, when trouble came, he hoped to call on God to come to his defense. As a result, God stopped talking to Saul.

On one occasion, Saul went so far as to consult a medium to contact the spirit of Samuel the Prophet to hear from God. The message he heard was a rebuke and repetition of the same message Samuel had shared during his lifetime - Saul would lose his kingdom.

God is not a genie!

We cannot force or manipulate God to do our will. No prophet, no religious ritual, no medium, or anything else can change God's will as expressed in His Word. God keeps His word.

Continued disobedience will interfere with our communication with God. God will not waste His time talking to those who refuse to listen. We should seek God's will - and obey it. If you want to hear from God, prayerfully study His word, the Bible. God communicates with those who seek Him in that way.

ACTION:

• Make sure that you know God. For more, click HERE.

• Ask God to forgive you for the times you did not obey Him.

• As you study the Bible, ask God to help you understand it. Look for what God is saying in the Bible.

• How does it apply to your life? Commit to put it into practice.