The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 4:17-20: But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” — Judges 4:17-20 What if the person God chooses to win the battle is the one nobody expected? Sisera, the mighty commander who once terrorized Israel, is now running on foot like a fugitive. Desperate for safety, he stumbles into the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. On the surface, Jael looked like the last person God would use. She wasn’t a warrior. She wasn’t even an Israelite. In fact, her family had a peace treaty with Sisera’s king. If anything, Sisera should have felt safe there. But Jael was also a Kenite, a distant relative of Moses. But God had already spoken through Deborah: the honor of Sisera’s downfall would go to a woman. And here she was—an unlikely woman, in an ordinary tent, about to play an extraordinary role in God’s plan. Sisera thought he found refuge. Instead, he walked straight into the hands of the one God chose to fulfill His prophecy. Jael’s story is living proof that God uses unlikely people. She didn’t have a sword, an army, or a reputation as a leader. She had a tent and the courage to act. And God used her to change the course of Israel’s history. Don’t ever think God can’t use you because you’re not the most skilled, the loudest, or the obvious choice. He delights in flipping expectations and proving His power through ordinary lives. The question isn’t are you qualified? but are you willing? Deborah’s prophecy reminds us: when God speaks, His word will come to pass. And Jael’s story reminds us: He often chooses the most unlikely person in the room to bring it about. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Identify one “ordinary tool” in your life—time, skill, relationship—and pray for God to use it in an extraordinary way this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for choosing unlikely people like Jael. Use me, with whatever I have, to be part of Your plan today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Available."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 4:11-16: Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left. — Judges 4:11-16 Would you fight differently if you knew God had already won the battle? The tension rises. Sisera rolls out with 900 iron chariots—the tanks of the ancient world. On paper, Israel doesn’t stand a chance. But Deborah’s words cut through the fear: “Up! For this is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?” Notice that—has given. Past tense. This wasn’t a battle to see who would win. It was a victory God had already secured. Then the Lord moves. A sudden storm (see Judges 5:20–21) floods the Kishon River, bogging down the chariots. The unstoppable enemy is stuck in the mud. Barak finally charges, but the truth is clear: the victory belonged to God before Barak ever lifted a sword. This is the secret of faith—you’re not fighting for victory; you’re fighting from victory. Barak hesitated, but God had already won the battle. The outcome was never in doubt. Maybe you’re staring down your own “900 iron chariots”—that overwhelming challenge that looks impossible. Remember this: God has already secured the victory through Christ. The cross and the empty tomb prove it. Your job isn’t to muster superhuman strength. It’s to rise when God says, “Up!” and trust that he’s already gone before you. Hesitation may rob you of joy and honor, but it will never undo the fact that God wins. The only question is—will you step into the victory He’s already secured? ASK THIS: DO THIS: When fear tempts you today, declare aloud: “This is a battle God has already won.” Then step into the next act of obedience He’s calling you to. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You that the victory is already Yours. Help me rise when You call, trusting that You’ve gone before me and secured the battle. Amen. PLAY THIS: "You've Already Won."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 4:6-10: She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him. — Judges 4:6-10 What blessings slip through our fingers when we hesitate instead of acting in faith? God had already spoken: “Go, gather your men… I will give him into your hand.” The outcome was certain. Victory was promised. But Barak hesitated. Instead of trusting God’s word, he leaned on Deborah: “If you go with me, I will go.” He wanted her presence more than God’s promise. Deborah agreed—but warned him: the glory of victory wouldn’t go to him. God would hand Sisera over to a woman instead. Barak went to battle, but the lesson was clear: hesitation comes at a cost. God still wins—but when we pause at the edge of obedience, we may miss the full blessing of leading boldly. This is where too many believers get stuck. God calls. The promise is sure. But instead of stepping out in full faith, we hesitate. We stall. We wait for more signs, more reassurance, more backup. Barak still fought, but his hesitation meant he lost the honor of leading with decisive courage. Deborah had to fill the gap. Here’s the challenge: don’t wait for someone else to carry the weight God put on your shoulders. God’s victory doesn’t depend on you—but your faithfulness does. Step up without hesitation. Don’t miss the blessing because you lingered when God said, "Go." ASK THIS: DO THIS: Pinpoint one area where you’ve been hesitating. Stop stalling—take one clear step of obedience today. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for hesitating when you’ve already spoken. Give me the courage to step forward in faith, trusting your promise more than my fear. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Made For More."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 4:4-5: Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. — Judges 4:4-5 What happens when men shrink back from the leadership God has called them to? In the middle of Israel’s chaos, God raises an unexpected leader: Deborah. She wasn’t a warrior swinging a sword or a king sitting on a throne. She was a prophetess who listened to God and spoke his truth. Her “office” was a palm tree in the hill country. People came to her not for military strategy but for judgment rooted in God’s Word. Under that tree, she became a steady voice of wisdom in a time of compromise and fear. Here’s what makes her story remarkable: Deborah is one of the only female civil leaders in the history of Israel. Why? Because no man stepped up. This wasn’t God’s usual design—it was a vacuum of male leadership. While Israel’s men hesitated, God used Deborah’s courage to call them forward. Deborah’s leadership reminds us that spiritual authority isn’t about position—it’s about submission to God. But her story is also a warning: when men fail to lead, God will still accomplish his purposes—sometimes through those we least expect. This should wake us up. God doesn’t call you to sit under the shade of someone else’s palm tree forever. He calls you to plant your own, to lead your home, your workplace, your friendships with courage rooted in his Word. Don’t wait for someone else to carry the spiritual weight God designed for you. The world doesn’t need more men who abdicate leadership; it needs men who step up. Don’t miss your moment. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Choose one area where you’ve been passive—at home, at work, or in your friendships—and take the lead today by bringing God’s Word into that space. PRAY THIS: Father, forgive me for the times I’ve shrunken back from leadership. Give me Deborah’s courage and conviction to step up and lead under your Word. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lead Me."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 4:1-3: And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron, and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. — Judges 4:1-3 Why do we keep falling back into the same sins we swore we’d never touch again? The story opens with a phrase we’ve heard before: “The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Notice the timing—after Ehud died. With their leader gone, Israel slipped right back into rebellion. Same song, second verse. This time, God handed them over to Jabin, king of Canaan. And Sisera, his commander, rolled out 900 iron chariots—state-of-the-art war machines. For twenty years, Israel lived under cruel oppression. And finally—they cried out. The cycle repeats: sin → slavery → suffering → supplication → salvation. This is how sin works. Left unchecked, it always drags us back into bondage. Maybe your “Sisera” isn’t a general with iron chariots—it’s anger, lust, addiction, or pride. You beat it once, but without vigilance, it creeps back, stronger and more ruthless than before. And here’s the dangerous part: we learn to live with it. We call it “normal.” We convince ourselves the chains aren’t that heavy. But eventually, sin always shows its true colors—it becomes cruel, it takes more than it gives, and it leaves you emptier than before. Don’t wait twenty years to cry out to God. Don’t wait until the oppression becomes unbearable. Cry out today. The cycle doesn’t have to define you, because God’s mercy is greater than your failure, and his deliverance is stronger than the grip of your enemy. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Name your “Sisera”—the sin that keeps coming back. Write it down. Pray over it. And share it with a trusted brother or sister in Christ for accountability. PRAY THIS: Lord, I don’t want to repeat the same old sins. Help me cry out to you now, not later, and trust you to break the cycle. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lord, I Need You."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 3:31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel. — Judges 3:31 Can one person really make a difference? Shamgar barely gets a verse. No long backstory. No detailed battle plan. Just a man with an oxgoad—a farmer’s tool, not a warrior’s weapon. Yet with it, he struck down 600 Philistines and saved Israel. That’s it. No fanfare. No epic speeches. Just simple faith, raw courage, and God’s power behind an ordinary tool. Sometimes God writes his biggest stories with the smallest brushstrokes. Shamgar’s life reminds us: impact isn’t about having the best weapon, but about putting what’s in your hand into God’s hand. Stop waiting for perfect conditions or better tools. God’s not asking for what you don’t have. He’s asking for what you do have. Your oxgoad might be a kind word, a simple prayer, a skill you think is too small to matter. But in God’s hands, ordinary becomes extraordinary. Never underestimate the difference one willing man or woman can make when they give God their tool and their trust. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Take one small, practical step of obedience today using whatever “oxgoad” God has placed in your hand. PRAY THIS: Lord, take what I have—even if it feels small—and use it for your glory. Make me bold like Shamgar to step into the fight with what you’ve given me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Available."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 3:24-20 When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor. Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years. — Judges 3:24-30 What could God do through your faith-filled courage if you actually stepped out today? Ehud’s daring act in the palace wasn’t the end—it was the beginning. Once the king fell, Ehud rallied Israel with a trumpet blast. Notice his words: “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies into your hand.” This wasn’t Ehud’s victory—it was God’s. But Ehud’s faith lit the spark. Israel seized the fords, cut off Moab’s retreat, and struck down 10,000 of their strongest soldiers. The result? Eighty years of peace. One man’s courageous obedience unleashed a wave of victory for an entire nation. Your obedience today could be the turning point for more people than you realize. Ehud didn’t just free himself—he freed his nation. Don’t underestimate the ripple effect of your courage. When you lead your family in prayer, when you walk in integrity at work, when you take a stand for Christ, you create space for others to follow. Courage multiplies. Obedience inspires. Faith spreads. And the peace that comes isn’t just for you—it blesses everyone around you. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Take one bold step of faith today in an area you’ve been holding back. Trust God to use your obedience to influence more people than you can see. PRAY THIS: Lord, give me Ehud’s courage to step out in faith. Use my obedience to bring victory and peace not just to me, but to those you’ve placed in my life. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Do It Again."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 3:12-23 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them. — Judges 3:12-23 Why would God choose a left-handed man with a hidden dagger to deliver his people? Israel fell again, this time under the heavy hand of King Eglon of Moab. Eighteen years of oppression. And then, once more, the cry for help. God’s answer? Ehud—a left-handed man. In a tribe where warriors were expected to be right-handed, Ehud was an outsider. But that “weakness” became his advantage. Guards didn’t suspect the dagger strapped to his right thigh. In the palace, standing before the bloated king, Ehud struck—and Israel’s deliverance began. This story feels raw, almost shocking. But it’s here to remind us: God doesn’t save the way we expect. He uses unlikely people, in unlikely ways, to accomplish his purposes. Maybe you feel like Ehud—overlooked, underestimated, maybe even carrying what others see as a weakness. But with God, that very thing can become your weapon for his glory. God’s not looking for polished people with perfect resumes. He’s looking for willing hearts. He loves to flip weakness into strength, using the very things others count out to bring about victory. Stop disqualifying yourself. If God can use Ehud’s left hand, he can use your story. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Write down one personal “weakness” you usually hide. Then ask God how he might want to use it for his glory. Take one step to offer it back to him today. PRAY THIS: Father, use what I see as weakness to show your strength. Help me trust that you can work through the parts of me I least expect. Amen. PLAY THIS: "God of the Impossible."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 3:9-11 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died. — Judges 3:9-11 What happens when God’s Spirit fills an ordinary man? Israel cried out. And God answered—not with an army, but with a man. Othniel wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t famous. He was Caleb’s younger brother, living in the shadow of a great warrior. Yet when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, everything changed. Notice the shift: Israel cried.God raised.The Spirit empowered.Victory came.Peace followed. This is God’s pattern. He takes an ordinary man, fills him with his Spirit, and uses him to deliver his people. Never underestimate what God can do through you when his Spirit fills you. You don’t need the perfect résumé, the loudest voice, or the sharpest skills. What you need is surrender to God’s Spirit. The battles you face aren’t won by sheer grit but by God’s Spirit working through you. Othniel’s story reminds us: victory doesn’t rest on the size of the man, but on the strength of the God in the man. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Today, pray specifically for the Spirit of the Lord to empower you in one area where you feel weak—and then take one step of faith into that battle. PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, fill me today. Use me, like you used Othniel, to bring your victory and your peace where I cannot on my own. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Same God."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible in Project23. Read more here: Project23 Our text today is Judges 3:7-8 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. — Judges 3:7-8 What happens when God lets you have the life you chose without him? Notice the sequence: They forgot the Lord.They served false gods.God’s anger burned.They were sold into slavery. Israel’s biggest problem wasn’t its enemies. It was their memory. Forgetting God led them straight into idolatry, and idolatry led them straight into chains. God’s judgment wasn’t random—it was righteous. When Israel abandoned him, he gave them exactly what they wanted: life under the rule of another master. But the freedom they thought they’d find in Baal worship became bondage under Cushan-rishathaim. This is how sin still works. Forgetting God always opens the door to false gods. And false gods always enslave. Maybe for you it’s not a wooden empty false-god like Baal—it’s other false-gods like money, success, approval, lust. But the pattern is the same: what you serve ends up ruling you. Don’t miss this: forgetting God is the first step into slavery. The enemy doesn’t need you to deny God outright—just to forget him little by little, until you wake up chained. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Set one daily reminder (alarm, sticky note, verse card) to pause and remember God today—before the world makes you forget him. PRAY THIS: Lord, don’t let me forget you. Keep me close, and protect me from the chains that come when I turn from you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "No Longer Slaves."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to Andrew Nippert from Woodbury, MN. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your commitment is helping deliver God’s Word with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is Judges 3:5–6. So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods. — Judges 3:5-6 What happens when God’s people start blending in instead of standing out? Israel didn’t fall overnight. They didn’t storm the temples of Baal in one reckless decision. They simply “lived among” the nations. They intermarried. They shared meals. They shared gods. Compromise always starts small. Like a leak in a dam, it seems harmless—until the whole wall bursts. Israel traded holiness for comfort, obedience for acceptance. And soon, what was unthinkable became normal: bowing to idols. God had called them to be set apart. But instead, they got cozy with the very people who were meant to be driven out. Compromise is rarely loud. It’s quiet. It’s slow. It’s choosing to laugh at the joke you shouldn’t, to flirt with the temptation you know is dangerous, to keep silent when God calls you to speak. Don’t be fooled: small compromises never stay small. They grow. They spread. They enslave. The world doesn’t need more Christians who blend in. It needs men and women who stand out—even if it costs them something. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Choose one area of compromise in your life today and cut it off before it cuts you down. PRAY THIS: Lord, reveal where I’ve allowed compromise to creep in. Give me the courage to stand apart, even when it costs me comfort. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Build My Life."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to Stan Jackson from Farmington, MO. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your commitment is helping deliver God’s Word with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is Judges 3:1–4. Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. — Judges 3:1-4 What if the struggle you’re facing isn’t punishment—but preparation? God didn’t clear the land all at once. He left enemies in place. Why? To test Israel. Not to crush them—but to train them. Think about that. God could’ve snapped his fingers and wiped every enemy away. But he didn’t. Instead, he left battles to fight, not because he was absent, but because he was present in a different way—training his people to lean on him, sharpening their obedience, and forging their faith in fire. Life’s tests work the same way. They’re proving grounds. The challenges you’re staring down right now may be God’s way of toughening your spiritual muscles. Like a trainer who won’t lift the weights for you but won’t leave your side either, God sets you under the bar to see if you’ll trust him for the strength. Don’t despise the battles God leaves in your life. That demanding boss, the marriage struggle, the nagging temptation—they might be the very tools God is using to test and teach you. Tests aren’t about failure; they’re about faith. The question isn’t why is this happening to me? But how will I respond? Will you trust God when it’s heavy? Will you obey when it’s easier not to? Your test today might be the training ground for tomorrow’s victory. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Identify one struggle you’re facing today. Instead of asking God to remove it, ask him to use it to strengthen your faith and obedience. PRAY THIS: Father, help me see my battles not as punishments but as proving grounds. Give me the strength to trust you and obey, even when the struggle feels endless. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Battle Belongs."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:19-23: But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, 'Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.' So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua. — Judges 2:19-23 Here’s where the cycle begins. And it’s not just disobedience—it’s downward. After every judge died, Israel didn’t just fall back—they went deeper into sin. More corrupt. More stubborn. More defiant. The pattern was clear: rescue… relapse… repeat. And God finally says, “I’m not removing the enemies anymore.” Not out of abandonment, but refinement. He leaves the nations in place, not to punish them, but to test them. God wanted to see: would Israel follow him without the pressure of a judge? Would obedience come from the heart, or only when someone was watching? That’s a question every one of us has to answer. God’s goal wasn’t just external behavior. It was an internal transformation. However, without repentance, the people continued to cling to their old ways. They worshiped idols. They refused to drop their stubborn habits. And the consequences followed. Sometimes, God allows particular struggles to persist—not because he’s absent, but because he’s refining us. He wants your character, not just your compliance. He wants faithfulness that endures, not obedience driven by fear. So if you feel like you’re facing the same battles again and again, don’t just pray for escape. Pray for endurance. Ask God what he's trying to reveal—and what he wants you to release. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Identify one recurring battle in your life, and ask God what character trait he’s developing through it. PRAY THIS: Lord, don’t let me waste the tests You allow. Use them to refine me, deepen my faith, and reveal what needs to change. Amen PLAY THIS: "Refiner."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:16-18: Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. — Judges 2:16-18 God’s anger burned in the last passage, but now his compassion rises. He raises up judges to deliver his people. Not because they deserved it, but because his mercy runs deeper than their rebellion. Even when Israel ignored the judges and spiraled back into sin, God kept showing up. He wasn’t just keeping score—he was pursuing hearts. “The Lord was moved to pity by their groaning…” That’s the heart of a Father. God is just. But he is also tender. He disciplines, but he also delivers. He doesn’t abandon his people in their pain—even when that pain is their own doing. And here’s the part that should stop us in our tracks: God saved them through the judge. But the people still didn’t listen. The problem wasn’t outside—it was inside. Their hearts were stubborn. Their worship wandered. Their loyalty fractured. But still… God intervened. Not once. Repeatedly. That’s grace. That’s our God. And that’s your reminder: no matter how far you’ve drifted, God still has ways to pull you back. Maybe it’s a person. A moment. A truth that hits you like a freight train. He hasn’t stopped reaching even if you’ve stopped listening. So today, respond to the rescue. Don’t repeat the cycle. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Write down one way God has shown you mercy, and tell someone else about it today as an act of obedience and praise. PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for rescuing me even when I didn’t deserve it. Help me recognize your grace and respond to it with faith and obedience. Amen PLAY THIS: "Mercy."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:14-15: So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. — Judges 2:14-15 God’s anger burned—not randomly, but righteously. Israel had abandoned him. Now, he lets them experience what life is like without his protection. He gives them over to their enemies. He lets them experience defeat. Not because he’s cruel, but because he’s faithful. He’s a covenant-keeping God, even when keeping the covenant involves discipline. “Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm…” That’s a terrifying scripture. But God warned them multiple times. He told them what would happen. They didn’t believe him. They abused his grace, lived in blatant disobedience, and then worshipped other gods. Sometimes the pain we feel isn’t an attack from the enemy—it’s the correction of a loving Father. But God doesn’t discipline us to destroy us. He does it to wake us up because he loves us. When we disobey and rebel, he’ll often let us feel the weight of our choices. Not to shame but to shape us. Because the worst thing God could do is let us keep going casually and comfortably in the wrong direction. So if you’re in distress right now, don’t just ask, “How do I escape this?” Ask, “What is God trying to teach me in this?” His discipline is proof that he hasn’t given up on you. It means he still wants you, your heart, and your full surrender to him. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Reflect on one area of hardship and ask God if it’s connected to something He’s trying to correct—and then respond with surrender. PRAY THIS: Lord, if I’m under Your discipline, I don’t want to waste it. Teach me what I need to learn and bring me back to You fully. Amen PLAY THIS: "Run to the Father."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:11-13: And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. — Judges 2:11-13 The shift happens fast. From not knowing God… to abandoning him… to bowing before idols. This isn’t just spiritual confusion. It’s full-on rebellion. And here’s the most dangerous part: the people didn’t stop worshiping—they just redirected it. They served the Baals and Ashtaroth—the fertility gods of the surrounding cultures. These gods promised abundance, sexuality, strength, and protection. In other words, they offered the same things our culture still worships today—success, pleasure, control, and comfort. But abandoning God always begins with forgetting what He’s done. “The God who brought them out of Egypt” became a distant memory. And when gratitude fades, idolatry grows. The human heart is never neutral. It will always worship something. The only question is—who or what? This is more than just history; this is what we see happening in our day and time. Our idols may not have names like Baal, but they have just as much power over us if we let them. The desire to fit in, the hunger for status, the comfort of distraction—these become the altars we kneel at if we stop remembering God’s faithfulness. And what angers God most? Not just that they sinned, but that they traded him for a fraud. They bowed to what was around them instead of remembering the One who saved them. So ask yourself today: what’s been stealing your worship? What “good thing” has become a godlike thing? The answer will show you what’s competing for your heart. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Name one “idol” that’s grown too important—and intentionally deny it today to reset your devotion. PRAY THIS: God, I confess that I’ve chased other things instead of You. Remind me of who you are—and help me return my worship where it belongs. Amen PLAY THIS: "Clear the Stage."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:6-10: When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. — Judges 2:6-10 Joshua’s generation had seen the mighty works of God. They walked through the Jordan. Watched Jericho fall. Inherited a land they didn’t deserve. They served God faithfully during Joshua’s lifetime, and a little beyond. But then something terrifying happened. The next generation didn’t know the Lord. Not just that they didn’t follow him. They didn’t even know him. That’s not just spiritual drift. That’s spiritual negligence. Somewhere along the line, the storytelling stopped. The personal testimonies faded. The discipleship broke down. The fathers assumed their faith would be passed on without intentionality. It didn’t. This is one of the most sobering verses in all of Judges. It reminds us that spiritual inheritance is never automatic. It must be pursued, communicated, and modeled. Your kids won’t inherit your faith through osmosis. They’ll catch it when they see it lived, taught, and treasured. And the men around you? They’re watching too. If you don’t talk about God’s faithfulness, who will? If you don’t model repentance, courage, and trust, what will they imitate? We are always one generation away from forgetting God. But we’re also one conversation, one moment of obedience, one act of spiritual leadership away from changing that. Don’t assume. Disciple. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Tell one younger person in your life today about something God has done for you, and why it matters. PRAY THIS: Lord, don’t let me waste my spiritual influence. Help me lead those behind me to know You deeply and love You faithfully. Amen PLAY THIS: "Faithful Now."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:4-5: "As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the Lord." — Judges 2:4-5 God’s message hit the people hard. The people wept. Loudly. Publicly. They even named the place "Bochim," which means "Weepers." It sounds like a moment of potential. But there’s a problem. Nothing really changed. Just look ahead to verse 11. We’re not told they tore down the altars. We’re not told they returned to full obedience. We’re just told they wept… and moved on. This is the difference between emotional conviction and real repentance. Tears aren’t the goal—transformation is. God isn’t looking for dramatic responses. He’s looking for lasting obedience. And too often, we confuse the two. We hear a convicting message, feel deeply moved, and maybe even cry and feel remorseful. But then, shortly after the confession, we walk away unchanged. Emotion is good. It shows your heart is tender. But if it doesn’t lead to action, it becomes a spiritual decoy. The people sacrificed at Bochim, but they didn’t surrender at Bochim. They expressed regret, but not resolve. So what about you? Is there something you’ve cried about, prayed about, even confessed—but never truly repented of? Don’t just feel something—do something. Don’t just weep—walk in a new direction. God wants your heart, but he also wants habitual change. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Write down one sin or compromise you've wept over—then take one bold action to walk away from it today. PRAY THIS: Father, I don’t want to feel bad—I want to be changed. Lead me from sorrow into surrender and real obedience. Amen PLAY THIS: "Heart of God."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 2:1-3: "Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, "I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars." But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.'"— Judges 2:1-3 Before judgment falls, God speaks. Judges 2 opens with the angel of the Lord delivering a direct confrontation. It’s not gentle. It’s not subtle. It’s the voice of God reminding His people what He’s done—and what they’ve failed to do. “I brought you out… I gave you this land… I made a covenant…” But then: “You have not obeyed my voice.” This is what makes God’s discipline just. He doesn’t strike first—He speaks first to ensure we see the connection. He calls us back before the consequences come down. Israel had compromised. They’d made peace with pagan people and their altars instead of tearing them down. They tried to combine obedience with convenient opportunities. But God doesn’t bless half-obedience. He confronts it. And now, He announces the result: “They shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” Simply put: he gives them over to the gods they want and allows their consequences to teach. God is patient, but not passive. He won’t force us to obey, but he will let us feel the cost of ignoring him. And sometimes, the thorns in our lives are the result of altars we refused to tear down. What compromise have you let linger? What altar have you left standing? The warning is abundant. The confrontation is just. The invitation still stands. Return. Obey. Tear down what doesn’t belong. Do you need to tear something down? Do so, and avoid the consequences and the need to hear God's just voice. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Identify one compromise you’ve tolerated—and take specific action today to remove it from your life. PRAY THIS: God, thank You for speaking before You discipline. Help me hear Your voice and respond with immediate obedience. Amen PLAY THIS: "Holy Spirit."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 1:34-36: The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor. And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward. — Judges 1:34-36 We’ve watched a slow unraveling through this chapter. One tribe compromises, then another, until Israel’s momentum is gone—and by verse 34, the tide has turned. The Amorites are now pressing back. The people of Dan aren’t advancing, they’re retreating. They’ve been pushed into the hills, confined, controlled. The very enemies they were told to conquer are now conquering them. This is what happens when we stop obeying. We lose ground. Spiritually. Emotionally. Culturally. The authority we once carried gets handed over to the very things we were called to defeat. And while Joseph’s house exerts some control—forcing the Amorites into labor—it’s too little, too late. The enemy still has territory. The borders are redrawn. And God is silent. It’s sobering. But it’s not hopeless. God lets us feel the weight of disobedience. Not to punish us, but to draw us back. The pain of retreat is often the catalyst for repentance. Sometimes, God allows the enemy to press in and remind us what it feels like to live without him leading. He doesn’t abandon us. He stops enabling our passivity. So, my friend, where have you given ground? Where have you stopped fighting, and the enemy’s started pressing? It’s not too late. But the time is now. Reclaim what you’ve surrendered. Step back into obedience. Let God lead again. ASK THIS: DO THIS: Name one area where you’ve let sin take the lead—and today, take one bold action to take it back. PRAY THIS: Father, I’ve given ground I was meant to guard. Give me the strength to stand again and reclaim what’s Yours. Amen PLAY THIS: "The Stand."