How can we ensure our decisions align with God's will, unlike Saul's choice? Setting the Scene: Saul’s Desperate Decision “Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and inquire of her.’ ‘There is a medium at Endor,’ his servants replied.” Saul faced silence from heaven because of his ongoing disobedience (1 Samuel 28:6). Instead of repenting, he stepped outside God’s revealed will and sought forbidden spiritual counsel—something God had clearly outlawed (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). His choice stands as a vivid warning and a call to examine how we make our own decisions today. The Heart of the Problem: Ignoring God’s Clear Word • God had already spoken through the Law and the prophet Samuel; Saul wanted a different answer. • Disregarding Scripture leads to spiritual confusion (Psalm 119:105). • Seeking “other voices”—whether popular opinion, culture, or occult practices—ushers in darkness, not clarity (Isaiah 8:19-20). • Saul’s dilemma shows that the issue is rarely a lack of guidance but a lack of submission to guidance already given. Principles for Choosing God’s Way Today 1. Start with Scripture • God’s will never contradicts His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Let clear commands set the boundaries of every option you consider. 2. Depend on the Holy Spirit • “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). • A surrendered heart enables discernment (Romans 8:14). 3. Cultivate a Trusting Heart • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart…He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Worry and impatience push us toward shortcuts; trust waits for God’s timing. 4. Seek Godly Counsel • “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). • Choose counselors who themselves submit to Scripture. 5. Test Everything • “Test all things. Hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). • Evaluate circumstances, inner promptings, and advice against biblical truth. 6. Commit to Obedient Action • God often reveals the next step, not the entire journey (Psalm 37:23). • Immediate obedience keeps the path clear; delayed obedience clouds it (James 1:22-25). Practical Steps for Daily Discernment • Begin each day in the Word—listen before you act. • Pray specifically for wisdom; God promises to give it generously (James 1:5). • Keep a decision journal: record Scriptures, counsel received, and how God answers. • Watch for the peace that accompanies obedience (Colossians 3:15). • Refuse options that require moral compromise, no matter how attractive. • Wait when guidance is unclear; “he who believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28:16). A Final Picture of Obedient Decision-Making Unlike Saul, whose fear drove him outside God’s boundary lines, believers are called to walk confidently within them. As we saturate our minds with Scripture, lean on the Spirit, and heed godly counsel, our choices will increasingly align with God’s will, bringing light, peace, and lasting fruit (John 15:7-8). |
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