It’s amazing how quickly a small thing can throw everything off. In music, even one string slightly out of tune can disrupt an entire song. This devotional begins with that image—musicians tuning their instruments before a performance, listening closely for what’s true, steady, and right. With practice, they can detect when a note is off. And once the instruments are tuned properly, the music becomes harmonious and beautiful, just as it was designed to be.

In the same way, our lives can drift out of tune when we start listening to the wrong voices. The world constantly offers messages about what will make us happy, secure, or successful—wealth, status, comfort, possessions, or even cynicism and hopelessness. Some of those messages sound convincing, especially when our hearts are tired or our spiritual ears aren’t trained. But when we tune ourselves to the world’s “notes,” we often end up with more confusion, discord, and heartache.

The devotional points to Rehoboam as a warning about what happens when we listen to voices that feel familiar or flattering rather than wise and true. He rejected the counsel of experienced elders and followed the advice that appealed to him—leading to major loss. It’s a reminder that what seems right in the moment isn’t always right, and that wisdom often requires humility and discernment.

So how do we tune our lives to God’s voice instead? We practice. We develop a trained ear by spending consistent time in Scripture, praying for understanding, and allowing God’s Word to shape our thinking. As we read, memorize, and meditate, the Holy Spirit brings truth to mind when we need guidance. Over time, God aligns our hearts and choices so our lives begin to reflect His hope, His wisdom, and His story. And when we’re tuned to Him, our lives become a kind of worship—steady, purposeful, and pleasing to the One who made us.

Main Takeaways

• Just like instruments need tuning, our hearts and minds can drift out of alignment over time.

• The world offers convincing messages, but they often lead to discord and discouragement.

• Rehoboam’s story warns us about the cost of listening to the wrong voices.

• Tuning to God’s voice requires practice through Scripture, prayer, and spiritual attentiveness.

• As God renews our minds, our lives become more harmonious and honoring to Him.

Today’s Bible Verse

“The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, ‘My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” - 1 Kings 12:13-14, NIV

Your Daily Prayer

Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer:

“Lead me away from the path of Rehoboam… Renew my mind, Holy Spirit, so that I may understand and follow the will of God.”

You can listen to the full prayer or read the devotional at the links below.

• LifeAudio – Discover daily devotionals, Christian podcasts, and biblical encouragement at LifeAudio.com

• Crosswalk – Explore faith, prayer, and Christian living resources at Crosswalk.com

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