September 5
Searching for Answers
in the Wrong Place
"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
Deuteronomy 18:10 (NIrV)
Layla awoke slowly, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains of her bedroom. Her phone, resting on the nightstand, was her first point of contact with the world. As she stretched under the covers, she reached for it. She had made a habit of checking her horoscope each day, the comforting words offering her guidance for whatever the day might bring. It was a small thing, but it gave her a sense of control in an otherwise unpredictable world.
She unlocked her phone and navigated to the app. Today’s horoscope read, “The stars are aligned for change. A new opportunity awaits, but be careful who you trust. Don’t make hasty decisions.”
Layla stared at the screen for a moment, absorbing the message. There it was—her sign, giving her some reassurance, some hope for what was to come. She smiled softly, the weight of the previous day’s stress lifting just a little.
As she sat up in bed, her thoughts wandered to the church service she’d attended with Isabelle last week. It had been her first time stepping inside a church in years, and Isabelle had been so kind in inviting her. Layla had been reluctant at first—she wasn't sure she even believed in God anymore, or if church was a place for someone like her. But Isabelle had been patient, and something in her words had begun to stir something inside Layla.
Still, she wasn’t sure what she truly believed. The service had been moving, but there was a part of her that felt more comfortable relying on the familiar—the horoscopes, the daily “guidance” from the stars. It was something she could control, something tangible.
Later that day, as Layla and Isabelle sat over coffee, Layla casually mentioned her horoscope. “I always check it first thing. It gives me some peace,” she said, half-smiling as she sipped her drink.
Isabelle set her cup down gently, her eyes soft but filled with a quiet concern. “Layla, I understand that. I used to look for answers in the same places. But I’ve realized that those things, like horoscopes and signs, are not from God. The Bible actually says that we shouldn’t seek guidance from anything other than Him.”
Layla felt her stomach tighten. “What do you mean? It’s just for fun, right? It doesn’t hurt anyone.” Her voice wavered slightly, as if she wasn’t fully convinced herself but didn’t want to admit it.
Isabelle paused, her hand resting on the table. “I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is. In Deuteronomy 18, God warns us against practices like that—looking for answers in places other than Him. He wants us to trust Him, not the stars. I know it’s hard, Layla, but when we rely on anything but God, we’re putting our faith in things that aren’t real. And He’s the only One who can truly guide us.”
Layla felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. She hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn. Her mind began to race. Could it be that her search for guidance in the stars was actually leading her away from something more meaningful? The thought unsettled her.
“I just don’t know, Isabelle,” Layla whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can just stop looking for answers that way. It’s all I’ve known.”
Isabelle reached across the table and gently squeezed Layla's hand. “I get it. It’s not easy. But what if God has something better for you? Something more real than any horoscope could ever give you?”
That night, Layla lay in bed, unable to sleep. She kept thinking about Isabelle’s words. The stars had never failed her—at least, not in the way people had. She had been let down by so many things in her life, but the horoscope always seemed to offer a little light in the dark. Yet, now, she wasn’t sure. Was she truly trusting in something that was leading her closer to God, or was she avoiding the very thing that could change her heart?
In the silence of her room, Layla found herself praying, her words stumbling at first. “God, I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know how to stop looking for answers outside of You. But I want to try. Please, help me understand what it means to trust in You fully. Show me that You are the only One I need. I want to follow You, not the stars.”
She didn’t feel an instant change, but for the first time, she sensed a stillness, a peace she hadn’t felt before. It was as though God was meeting her exactly where she was.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I’ve been looking for answers in the wrong places.
I confess that I’ve trusted in things other than You—things that are fleeting and unreliable.
Please forgive me. I want to learn to trust You completely and rely on You for guidance.
Help me to stop seeking comfort in things that pull me away from You, and instead, draw me closer to Your truth.
Thank You for Your patience with me, for meeting me in my uncertainty.
Guide me in every step, and help me to walk in faith.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
