👀 Read and Understand the Signs

✨ Devotional Thoughts

Every day, you pass signs on the road, on your phone, in stores, and even in the skies. Some give direction, others warn of danger, and many help you get to where you’re going. But reading a sign is only half the equation. Understanding it—and responding correctly—is what actually makes the difference.

In Matthew 16, Jesus confronted the religious leaders who demanded a sign from heaven to prove His authority. But Jesus saw through their hearts. They could read the weather—red skies meant fair weather or storm—but they couldn't recognize the spiritual signs right in front of them. The Saviour stood among them, fulfilling prophecy after prophecy, yet they missed Him. Why? Because they were looking, but not truly seeing. They were hearing, but not understanding.

The problem isn’t just reading the signs; it’s understanding them in the light of God’s Word.

God has always spoken through signs, not just as miracles, but as messages. He gave the sign of a virgin birth to announce the coming Messiah. He gave a rainbow to remind Noah and all humanity of His covenant. He used dreams, stars, and even a donkey to communicate His will. But every sign required spiritual discernment. It was never just about seeing—it was about understanding.

Jesus also gave us signs of the end times: wars, earthquakes, false prophets, and love growing cold (Matthew 24). He didn’t give them to stir fear, but to awaken discernment and spiritual readiness. Are you paying attention? More importantly, do you understand what you’re seeing?

In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar saw a mysterious hand write a message on the wall. Terrified, he called for all his wise men—but none could understand the sign. Then Daniel was brought in. Because Daniel walked with God, he not only read the writing, he understood it. And he delivered God's warning boldly: the king’s days were numbered.

The writing was clear. The sign was visible. But only someone with a heart tuned to God could understand what it meant.

🪴Practical Reflections

Ask yourself:

• Are you merely seeing signs in your life, or are you understanding them?

• Is God trying to get your attention through situations, Scripture, or repeated patterns?

• Are you spending enough time in His presence and in His Word to interpret what He's showing you?

It’s not enough to recognize that something is happening—you need spiritual wisdom to understand what it means and what God is asking of you. Don’t just look—discern. Don’t just observe—pray for insight.

🌅 Closing Thoughts

In a world full of noise and distraction, it’s easy to miss the deeper meaning behind what God is doing. He still gives signs—not always flashy, but always meaningful. Some for correction,  guidance, or deeper trust. But they all require hearts that seek to understand, not just observe.

Be like Daniel. Be like the sons of Issachar—people who read the signs and understood them.

🙏 Prayer

Father, give me eyes to see and a heart to understand. Don’t let me miss what You are saying through the signs You place in my path. Teach me to slow down, seek You, and interpret what You’re doing in my life through the lens of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to be spiritually blind—I want to be spiritually aware. In Jesus’ name, Amen.