Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.
– 1 Kings 11:9-11
Devotion
This passage explains why Israel became a divided kingdom. The divided kingdom was a judgment from God as a result of Solomon’s divided heart. The story of Solomon ends sadly. Finally, Jeroboam, Solomon’s own official in charge of the labor force, rebelled against him (11:26-40). The phrase “his heart had turned away” occurs 4 times in the description of Solomon’s fall. Whenever our heart turns away from God, some portion of God’s kingdom work in us and through us is torn away. A divided heart always leads to a divided kingdom.
The Big Question
What forces might be attempting to turn your heart away from pure devotion to God? Have you allowed God-given privileges to make you feel entitled in some way? Have you stopped to consider how a divided heart will hinder your personal growth and hurt God’s kingdom work in this world?
Spend some time in prayer considering how God might be speaking to you through His Word today.