Daily Devotional – ‘In His Footstep’
By Kingdom Support Initiatives (KSi)
September 14th 2023

When God is Silent (II)

How I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols Ezekiel 6:9b (NIV)

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 6:9; Ezekiel 20:16

Yesterday, we started considering reasons responsible for God’s silence. Sin is a principal factor that disconnects us from God. Accept Jesus Christ today and embrace the God-kind of life! Also, may God help us to live in the reality of who we are in Him because when anyone becomes born again, he is a new creation and old thing have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Being in Christ means that you are empowered to live above sin because no one who is born of God will continue to sin for God’s seed remains in him (I John 3:9).

The second point we want to consider today is that God is silent when we want our self-will to prevail. In this case, we don’t accept what God is saying. For instance, prophet Balaam knew God’s intention but refused to accept God’s verdict (Number 22-23). There are cases of many singles who keep praying concerning their life partner and God spoke initially about His plan but because they refuse to surrender to God’s verdict, and God becomes silent on that issue because His word is “yea and amen”.

Another reason why God remain silent is what the Bible refers to as “idol in a man’s heart”. God speaking to Ezekiel said that the children of Israel refused to hear Him because of the idols in their heart. This refers to those self-constructed, and self-proposed wishes and plans contrary to God’s plan. When we pray to God on an issue and we have our mind made up concerning the issue even before praying to God. In such case, God is not silent rather our senses have been blocked because we have committed ourselves to the idols in our heart. We avoid God by giving excuses and insisting on our own way.

Knowing the mind of God requires being open to receive His word; it means being rooted in God’s word to know His mind on issues of life and submitting to God’s exact will, plan and purpose. So next time when it seems God is silent, take yourself through the test to know if there is any idol in your heart and if your plan aligns with God’s. Disobedience, stubbornness of heart and idols in the heart will keep God silent and far away. Until you submit your will unto God, there won’t be absolute hearing of God because God speaks to yielded heart, mind and will!

Self-Reflection: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Daily Confession: Lord, I submit my will unto you.

Intercessory prayer: May my children desire you.

Hymn: Be gone, unbelief, My Saviour is near

And for my relief, Will surely appear