The Resolute Podcast is a time where we talk about topics of family, faith, fatherhood, and relevant news. The podcasts are hosted by Vince Miller founder of Resolute. Check us out at www.beresolute.org/listen Get to know Vince at www.vincemiller.com
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Nathan Mitchell from Broken Arrow, OK. 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 7:4–8. And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,' shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,' shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. — Judges 7:4-8 You'd think losing 22,000 soldiers was enough. But God isn't finished. He tells Gideon, “The people are still too many.” This time, there's no speech to the crowd — just a strange test at the water's edge. Soldiers kneel or lap water from their hands. The result? Only 300 make the cut. No explanation about why this method mattered. No insight into the military reasoning. Just God's choice — and His promise: “With the three hundred men… I will save you.” Gideon is now down to less than 1% of his original army. From a human perspective, the odds aren't just bad — they're impossible. And that's exactly how God wants it. When you're down to your “less than 1%,” it's not always a sign that God has abandoned you — sometimes it's proof he's setting the stage for His glory. Gideon's reduction wasn't about military strategy; it was about making sure Israel couldn't take credit. God will sometimes allow your resources, influence, or opportunities to shrink to a fraction of what you think you need. Why? So the only explanation left is him. In everyday life, this might look like a budget cut that forces you to depend on his provision, a smaller team that makes you lean harder on his strength, or fewer open doors so that when the right one opens, you know it's from him. We resist these reductions because they feel like loss. But in God's hands, they're actually preparation. He removes what you think you need so you can discover he's all you truly need. ASK THIS: Where has God been reducing your “army” lately? How could this loss be positioning you for a greater dependence on Him? Are you tempted to measure God's ability by your resources? What would it look like to trust Him with your “less than 1%”? DO THIS: Identify one area in your life where God has reduced your resources. Instead of panicking, thank Him for the opportunity to see His power more clearly. PRAY THIS: Lord, when my strength is reduced and my resources run low, help me remember that You are setting the stage for Your power. Teach me to trust You more than what's in my hands. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Way Maker."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Art Forester from Hudson, WI. 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 7:1–3. Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.'" Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. — Judges 7:1-3 So the Israelite army wakes up early, camped at the spring of Harod. Just across the valley, Midian's massive force waits. Every soldier counts — at least, that's what Gideon must have thought. But God sees the situation differently than Gideon does. He tells Gideon, "You have too many men." Too many? Against an army so large it can't be counted? Yes. God knows the danger isn't the size of the enemy — it's the pride in Israel's heart. If they win with a big enough army, they'll think they did it themselves. So God orders a cut. Anyone who is afraid can leave. And just like that, 22,000 soldiers pack up and head home. Gideon is left with less than a third of what he started with. The odds just got worse — and exactly how God wanted them. God will sometimes strip away the resources, people, or security you thought you needed — not to punish you, but to purify your faith. When he reduces what you rely on, it's because he wants you to rely on him. It is uncomfortable. It feels unsafe. But if our confidence rests in our numbers, connections, or abilities, then our faith isn't in God — it's in ourselves. So has God been reducing your resources lately? When God reduces our resources, he is often removing our false sense of control that we've been clinging to. Sometimes we don't even know we are clinging to it, so we resist the reduction. But fewer options force deeper faith. Less human advantage means more room for divine intervention. The question is, when God starts reducing your "resources," will you see it as a setback… or as the setup for him to show his power? ASK THIS: Where has God been cutting back your resources or support lately? How could that reduction be preparing you to trust Him more? What false securities might He be removing from your life? Are you willing to face a harder battle if it means God gets the glory? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've been depending on your own strength. Release it to God today and pray for faith to trust him with the outcome. PRAY THIS: Father, when You take away what I think I need, help me see it as Your way of drawing me closer to You. Strip away my pride and replace it with deeper trust in Your power. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Strip It All Away."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:33–40. Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them. Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. — Judges 6:33-40 The Valley of Jezreel was filling with enemy troops — Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples. From a human perspective, this was overwhelming. But then comes a defining moment: “The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon.” The language is vivid — God didn't just give Gideon a pep talk. He wrapped him in His own Spirit like a warrior putting on armor. Suddenly, the man who once threshed wheat in hiding is blasting a trumpet for war, summoning tribes from all directions to follow him. And yet… clothed in God's Spirit, Gideon feels the pull of the gap — that space between what he believes about God's promise and the confidence to act on it without hesitation. Twice, he lays out a fleece for reassurance. Twice, God answers patiently. It's a moment both victorious and vulnerable — a Spirit-filled man still learning to walk in the courage God has given. Most of us live with a gap — the space between what we believe about God and how we actually live it out. We believe He's faithful, yet we still fear. We believe He provides, yet we cling to our own protection. We believe He calls us, yet we cower when it's time to move. Gideon's story reminds us that the Spirit doesn't nullify our humanity. The Spirit equips us for the fight, but God's patience shapes us for it. He meets us in the gap — not to leave us there, but to move us forward. And here's the pivotal point: the way to close the gap is not to wait until you feel fearless, but to act with the faith you have today. Each step in obedience shrinks the distance between belief and boldness. So what's your gap right now — fear, control, insecurity, doubt? Name it. Write it in the comments. Write it into your journal. Bring it before God. Ask His Spirit to fill it and clothe you. And then take a step that puts your belief into motion. ASK THIS: Where is the gap between your belief and your obedience right now? How has God's Spirit already equipped you for it? How has God shown patience toward you in that gap? What step could you take today to close it? DO THIS: Name your gap, pray for the Spirit to fill it, and take one concrete action today that turns belief into boldness. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for clothing me with Your Spirit and meeting me in the gap between what I believe about You and how I live it out. Help me to step forward today, trusting Your power more than my fear. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Even When It Hurts."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:25–32. That night the LORD said to him, “Take your father's bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.” So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night. When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar. — Judges 6:25-32 Fresh from building an altar to the LORD, Gideon's first assignment isn't charging Midian's army — it's tearing down his father's altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole beside it. It's risky. This is personal. This is his family's idol and his community's false god. Gideon obeys — but he does it at night, still afraid of the backlash. By morning, the whole town knows. They demand his death, but Gideon's father unexpectedly defends him: “If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself.” That day, Gideon gets a new name: Jerubbaal — “Let Baal contend against him.” Before God sends you to confront the enemy “out there,” He will ask you to confront the compromise “in here.” For Gideon, the victory over Midian had to start with victory over idolatry in his own home. It's the same for us — the battles that matter most often begin in the places closest to us: The habits no one else sees. The values we've tolerated. The cultural idols we've quietly accepted. This is why worship must be followed by obedience. The altar of peace fuels the courage to pull down the altars that compete with God. And sometimes that means tough, awkward, costly steps before you ever face the “big” enemy. If you skip this step, you might fight in public while losing in private. But if you obey here, you'll be ready for whatever comes next. So what do you need to tear down today? Write it in your journal. Share it in the comments. And tear it down, regardless of what others say. ASK THIS: What “altars” — habits, compromises, or idols — has God been asking you to tear down? How has fear kept you from confronting them? Who in your life might be impacted if you took that stand? Are you willing to start your battle where God says, not where you'd prefer? DO THIS: Write down one personal or family “altar” that needs to go — a practice, influence, or mindset that pulls you away from God. Take one concrete step this week to remove it. PRAY THIS: Lord, give me the courage to start the fight where You tell me, even if it's close to home and costs me something. Let my obedience to You be the loudest message I send to the watching world. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Christ Be Magnified."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:17–24. And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.” So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket and the broth he put in a pot and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them. And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so. Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” But the LORD said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace. — Judges 6:17-24 Gideon's call is still fresh. God has told him, “I will be with you”, but fear is still whispering in his ear. He wants to believe — but he needs assurance. So Gideon offers what he has — a gift, placed before the angel of the LORD. In a flash of fire from the rock, God confirms His presence and His power. Gideon's fear spikes at first (“I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”), but God speaks peace into the moment: “Do not fear; you shall not die.” And right there, Gideon builds an altar. It's not just a monument — it's the turning point. The altar becomes the bridge between the fear that kept him in hiding and the faith that will send him into action. Worship is more than singing songs. It's the place where we respond to God's presence, remember his promises, and let his voice replace our fear with peace. For Gideon, that altar was where “I can't” became “He can.” It's where he stopped letting fear define his future and started believing God's affirmation. This is why so many of us stall in our calling — we try to jump from fear straight to action. But the path God gives is different: Fear → Worship → Faith → Action The altar is the bridge. Without it, you're running on your own adrenaline. With it, you're fueled by his peace. Pause whatever else you're doing and worship right now. Speak out loud one fear that's been holding you back. Thank God for one specific way He's confirmed His presence in your life. Pray these words: “You are my peace. I trust You more than I fear.” Write today's date in your journal as a marker — your “altar” moment — so you remember where fear became faith. ASK THIS: Where has fear been keeping you in hiding instead of moving forward? How could intentional worship today become your bridge into faith? What would your “altar” look like in this season? Are you trying to leap into action without first letting God speak peace over you? DO THIS: Pause whatever else you're doing and worship. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You that worship is the bridge between my fear and my faith. I offer You my fear right now and choose to rest in Your peace before I move forward. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Peace Be Still."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:13–16. And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” — Judges 6:13-16 Gideon's first response to God's call is a flood of doubts and questions: If God is with us, why has life gone so wrong? Where are the miracles we've heard about? How can I save Israel? I'm the weakest person from the weakest clan. God doesn't argue his résumé. He doesn't explain why Gideon is the perfect choice. He simply says: “Do not I send you?… I will be with you.” Gideon says, “I can't.” God answers, “I can.” We all have moments when God's calling collides with our sense of inadequacy. We see the size of the task and the smallness of our ability. Fear magnifies our weakness until the only thing we can say is, “I can't.” But God isn't asking if you can — he's declaring that He can. His presence is the decisive factor in every calling. When you believe “I can't,” you stay in hiding. When you believe “He can,” you step out in obedience. God chooses people who feel unqualified so that His strength, not theirs, gets the glory. The shift from “I can't” to “He can” doesn't happen when you suddenly feel strong. It happens when you decide his ability matters more than your inadequacy. That's the moment you can walk into something bigger than yourself — because he's already there. ASK THIS: Where in your life are you stuck, saying “I can't”? How might believing “He can” change the way you see that situation? What past moments prove God's strength outweighed your weakness? How can you keep God's presence at the front of your mind this week? DO THIS: Write “I can't… but He can” on a sticky note and put it somewhere you'll see it all day. Let it reframe how you view the challenges in front of you. PRAY THIS: Lord, I admit my weakness, but I trust Your strength. Move me from “I can't” to “He can,” and help me step into what You've called me to with confidence in You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:11–12. Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” — Judges 6:11-12 Gideon is hiding. Not from some small threat, but from the Midianite army that's been stripping Israel bare for seven years. He's threshing wheat in a winepress — a pit designed for crushing grapes, not for separating grain. It's cramped, awkward, and inefficient… but it's safe and secure from their Midianties oppressors. And that's where God shows up. The angel of the LORD greets him, not with a rebuke, but with a declaration: “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” God finds him in a hidden place and calls him to frontline ministry, even giving him a new name and identity — a mighty man of valor. Fear results in retreat. It convinces us to settle for survival instead of stepping into spiritual opportunities God is putting in front of us. For Gideon, it was a literal enemy outside the caves and outside the pits. For us, it might be the fear of failure, rejection, loss, or inadequacy. Hiding feels safe, but it's not always where God wants you to remain. He doesn't call his people to stay in the winepress. He calls them to step into the places where his strength will meet their insecurities and deficiencies. God might be calling you out right now — into a conversation you've been avoiding, a ministry you feel unqualified for, or a bold act of obedience that scares you. If you wait until you feel brave, you'll never move. But if you step out in faith, you might discover God has already equipped you for the fight. Which is exactly what happens in Gideon's story. ASK THIS: Where are you hiding right now — spiritually, emotionally, or relationally? What big opportunity might God be calling you into that fear is holding you back from? How could believing “The LORD is with you” change your next step? What would it take for you to leave your “winepress” and step into the open? DO THIS: Identify one opportunity you've been avoiding because of fear. Pray over it today, and then take one small but concrete step toward it — even if it's just telling someone you trust. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for calling me out of my hiding places. Help me see the opportunities You're putting before me and give me the courage to step into them, knowing You are with me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Do It Again."
In this episode of The Vince Miller Show, Vince and his son-in-law, Minnesota House Rep. Elliott Engen, unpack the spiritual swell happening among Gen Z and the cultural aftershocks of Charlie Kirk's assassination. They explore why young people are returning to church in record numbers, the danger of separating faith from civic life, and how churches must respond with truth and courage. From generational tensions to political realities, this episode calls pastors, leaders, and believers to step into the battle for truth in America today.
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:7–10. When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD on account of the Midianites, the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice.” — Judges 6:7-10 Israel is desperate. Seven years of Midian's oppression has broken them, and they cry out to God for help. But instead of sending an army or a leader, God sends a prophet with a hard word. Before God deals with the enemy outside, he exposes the enemy within. He reminds them of his past faithfulness and their present disobedience. The message is raw, but it's true: because Israel's bigger problem isn't Midian — it's their unfaithfulness. No follower likes this part — the confrontation of God about who we are. We'd rather God just fix the crisis, remove the stress, and make life comfortable again. But God loves us too much to patch up the problems. Like Israel, our circumstances are often symptoms of the problem, not the real problem. The deeper problem is the drift of our hearts — the quiet compromises, misplaced loyalties, and neglected obedience that weaken us from within. And God knows that if he delivers us without dealing with those things, we'll just end up back in the same problematic pit. This is why he sometimes sends a word before providing a way out. It feels like a delay, but it's actually mercy. His goal isn't temporary relief — it's lasting change. That means the painful work of letting him search, confront, and reshape us is not punishment. It's preparation. And if we skip that work, we risk skipping the real victory he wants to give. So ask yourself the hard question: “What in me needs to change before my situation changes?” ASK THIS: Have you been asking God to fix your situation without letting Him change your heart? What hard truth might God be speaking to you right now? How could this season be preparation, not just punishment? Are you willing to let God do the deeper work before He brings the outward relief? DO THIS: Ask God in prayer: “What in me needs to change before my situation changes?” Write down whatever He brings to mind, and commit to addressing it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, don't just change what's around me — change what's in me. Even if it's painful, do the deep work that will make the victory last. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Us Clean Hands."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:1–6. The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in. And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD. — Judges 6:1-6 The story of Gideon, in chapter 6, begins with a tragic pattern: sin, oppression, despair. This time, it's the Midianites who overrun Israel. They don't just raid; they ruin. They strip the land bare like locusts, leaving nothing behind. Year after year, the Israelites hide in caves and watch their harvest vanish. This is a defeat on two levels: Outside: The enemy takes what sustains life. Inside: Fear drains the will to fight. When God's people abandon Him, the enemy doesn't just win battles — he slowly erodes courage, hope, and identity until they're shadows of who they once were. That's how the enemy works today. He targets more than your circumstances — he aims at your spirit. First, he gets you to compromise, breaking down your guard. Then he keeps showing up, relentlessly, until you're hiding instead of fighting. He is relentless. For some of us, the “Midianites” are obvious sins. For others, it's a slow creep of fear, bitterness, shame, or distraction that saps spiritual strength. Either way, the result is the same: the land of your life is stripped bare. Because the "Midianites" are relentless then and today. The only way to fight a relentless enemy is with a relentless return to God. Israel didn't find victory in a stronger hiding place — they found it when they cried out. You can't outlast the enemy by retreating deeper into fear; you defeat him by trusting in God and running with complete abandon to God. Is it time to run relentlessly to God? So what compromise in your life has led to your retreat? Identify it and then run relentlessly back to God. ASK THIS: What “Midianite” is stripping away your spiritual strength right now? Have you been hiding from the problem instead of facing it with God's help? Where do you see signs of inside-out destruction in your life? What's one step toward God you can take today to push the enemy back? DO THIS: Name one area where fear or compromise has made you retreat. Instead of hiding from it today, bring it to God in prayer and take one practical step to address it in His strength. PRAY THIS: Lord, expose the enemy's work in my life. Keep me from hiding in fear. Teach me to run toward You, not away from the fight, and restore what's been stripped away. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Defender."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 5:28–31. “Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?' Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself, ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?' So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years. — Judges 5:28-31 Deborah's song closes with two women in two very different windows. Sisera's mother stares out, waiting for a victory parade that will never come. She fills the silence with lies — telling herself her son is delayed because he's collecting more spoil, more comfort, more honor. She hopes in what isn't true. Deborah, the prophet, isn't looking out a window. She's looking up — declaring what is true. She knows God's enemies will fall and His friends will shine like the rising sun. Her hope rests on the unshakable character of God, not the uncertain return of a man. These two women represent two ways to live: The Waiting Mother — anxious, self-reassuring, clinging to a false hope. The Trusting Prophet — confident, God-assured, living in the certainty of His victory. Too many of us live at the window, staring into the unknown and imagining worst-case scenarios. We try to comfort ourselves with human logic instead of resting in divine truth. But faith doesn't look out the window for a returning hero — it looks up to the One who's already won. Deborah's side of the window is where the peace is. It's where the forty years of rest begin. And you can live there now — not because every battle is over, but because your King's victory is certain. ASK THIS: Which side of the window do you live on most days — anxious waiting or confident trust? What lies have you been telling yourself instead of standing on God's truth? How would your outlook change if you believed His victory was already secure? What's one way you can “shine like the sun” for God's glory this week? DO THIS: When you feel yourself “waiting at the window,” stop and speak a truth from Scripture out loud — shift your gaze from what's missing to the God who's already won. PRAY THIS: Lord, keep me from living in anxious waiting. Make me like Deborah — confident in Your victory, steady in Your promises, and shining with the peace only You give. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Yes I Will."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 5:19–27. “The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! Then loud beat the horses' hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. ‘Curse Meroz,' says the angel of the LORD, ‘curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. ‘Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. He asked water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble's bowl. She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workman's mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple. Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.” — Judges 5:19-27 Deborah's song stretches from the battlefront to the heavenlies. Kings clashed at Taanach, but this wasn't just a human fight. “From heaven the stars fought” — a poetic way of saying that the forces of creation and the unseen armies of God joined the fray. The Kishon River swelled and swept the enemy away, as if the earth itself fought on Israel's side. It's cosmic warfare — the God of heaven moving heaven and earth to secure victory. And then the camera zooms in. Not to a general, not to a seasoned soldier, but to Jael — a tent-dwelling woman with no title, no rank, no sword. All she has are the tools of her everyday life: a tent peg and a mallet. Yet, in God's hands, those common items become the instruments that end the enemy's life and secure the victory. The same God who commands the stars also works through the simple obedience of His people. This is how God works — the cosmic and the common, side by side. He shakes the heavens and then uses the hammer in your hand. He commands rivers and then asks you to pour the cup of milk. He wins the battle, but He invites you into the moment that matters. We often think, If I only had more skill… more influence… more resources… then God could use me. But Jael reminds us — God doesn't need what you don't have. He uses what you do have. Your “tent peg” might be your job, your words, your generosity, your hospitality, or your willingness to speak truth when it's uncomfortable. You may feel like your role is small, but when you put it in God's hands, it becomes part of His cosmic plan. The question isn't whether God is fighting — He is. The question is whether you're ready to act when the moment comes. ASK THIS: What “tent pegs” has God already placed in your hands? Do you believe your ordinary skills can be part of God's cosmic plan? Why or why not? How does knowing God fights the big battle free you to act in small but significant ways? What's one ordinary act of obedience you can take today that could have eternal impact? DO THIS: Identify one ordinary skill, resource, or opportunity you already have. Offer it to God in prayer and be alert for how He might use it in the days ahead. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You that You fight the battles I cannot see. Take the simple tools in my hands and use them for Your glory in ways I could never imagine. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Available."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 5:13–18. “Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty. From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's staff; the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.” — Judges 5:13-18 Deborah draws a clear line between two groups. Group one: On one side are the tribes who stepped up — Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir, Zebulun, Issachar, Naphtali. They marched into the valley without hesitation, shoulder to shoulder, risking everything for God's mission. Group two: On the other side are those who stayed home — Reuben, Gilead, Dan, Asher. Reuben stalled in “great searchings of heart,” paralyzed by indecision. Gilead stayed put across the river. Dan clung to his ships. Asher kept his feet planted on the shoreline. The difference wasn't ability. It wasn't opportunity. It was willingness. In every generation, God calls His people to step up — but not everyone answers. Some run toward the fight. Others cling to the familiar. Some seize the moment. Others think about it until the moment passes. When God calls, the greatest tragedy isn't weakness — it's unwillingness. The tribes who stayed home had the same God, the same history, and the same opportunity as those who stepped up. But they missed their moment because they chose comfort over courage. You and I face the same choice. God's mission is still moving forward. The only question is — will you march into the valley, or watch from the shoreline? ASK THIS: In what areas of life has God been calling you to step up? What “great searchings of heart” have delayed your obedience? Whose courage could grow because you decided to step forward? How do you want to be remembered when God's story is told? DO THIS: Identify one step of obedience you've been delaying. Take it today — even if it feels risky — and trust God with the outcome. PRAY THIS: Lord, keep me from standing on the sidelines when You call. Give me the courage to step up, and the faith to follow You into the fight. Amen. PLAY THIS: "I Will Go."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Pete Lang from Upland, CA. 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 5:9–12. “My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD. Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way. To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel. Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD. ‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.'” — Judges 5:9-12 The song of Deborah shifts here from memory to momentum. She looks across Israel and sees leaders who stepped forward and people who volunteered without hesitation. And she blesses the Lord for it. But she doesn't stop there. She calls everyone — the wealthy (“you who ride on white donkeys”), the influential (“you who sit on rich carpets”), and the everyday traveler — to tell the story of God's triumph. Then her voice sharpens. Twice she says, “Awake, awake!” And then, “Arise!” It's the language of urgency. The sound of a spiritual trumpet blast. “Awake” means shake off the slumber, remember who you are, and recall why you're here. “Arise” means stand up, step forward, and move in the direction of God's call. Every believer faces two temptations after God moves powerfully — to relax into comfort or to retreat into passivity. But God's victories aren't the end of the mission. They're the launching pad for the next one. “Awake” is the inner shift — the moment your heart snaps out of distraction and into readiness. “Arise” is the outer step — the choice to act on what God has stirred in you. If you're sleeping through your calling, you're missing the reason you were rescued. Deborah didn't tell Barak to enjoy the win. She told him to get moving. God's Kingdom advances when His people stay awake and keep rising. Maybe your battle is spiritual laziness. Maybe it's fear. Maybe it's comfort. Whatever it is, you can't follow Jesus while hitting the snooze button on His call. ASK THIS: Where in your life is God calling you to “awake” from spiritual complacency? What's one concrete step you can take today to “arise” into obedience? Who around you needs the courage that will come from your obedience? How can you avoid the trap of settling into comfort after a spiritual victory? DO THIS: Say the words “Awake and arise” out loud this morning — then take one action that matches them before the day ends. PRAY THIS: Lord, don't let me drift into spiritual sleep. Wake me up to Your call, and give me the courage to rise and follow You into whatever comes next. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Awake My Soul."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Jason Ritchie from Pearland, TX. 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 5:6–8. “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways. The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?”— Judges 5:6-8 Deborah paints a grim “before” picture of Israel. The roads were unsafe. Villages were abandoned. Ordinary life was in hiding. And why? Because “new gods were chosen.” They forgot God's resume and hired other “saviors.” These idols couldn't protect them — in fact, they opened the gates for war. Even worse, there wasn't a shield or spear among forty thousand in Israel. Disarmed. Vulnerable. Exposed. When God's people stop remembering His past faithfulness, they stop trusting His present protection. The result? Fear replaces courage, culture decays, and the enemy moves in. Spiritual drift never starts loud. It begins with a quiet forgetfulness. A skipped prayer. A neglected truth. A replaced affection. Before long, God's resume is dusty and idols are on the payroll. The cost is high. We lose peace. We lose protection. We lose purpose. This is why remembering matters — because the moment we forget, we're already drifting. Leaders must recall God's resume daily, and followers must cling to it as if their lives depend on it — because they do. ASK THIS: Where have you been tempted to trust a “new god” instead of the one true God? How do you recognize the early signs of spiritual drift in your own life? What specific truths about God do you need to recall to stand firm today? Who in your life needs to be reminded of God's resume right now? DO THIS: Identify one “idol” in your life — something you've looked to for safety or satisfaction — and replace it today with an intentional act of worship toward God. PRAY THIS: Lord, don't let me drift. Keep Your faithfulness at the front of my mind so no false god can take Your place. Protect me from the slow fade of forgetting You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Come Thou Fount (Above All Else)."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Martin Williams from Waldorf, MD. 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 5:4-5. “LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. The mountains quaked before the LORD, even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.” — Judges 5:4-5 When life shakes you, do you stop and recall God's resume? In the middle of their victory song, Deborah and Barak pause to look back — way back — to Sinai. They remember the day God's presence shook the mountain, rattled the earth, and split the skies with rain. Why bring this up now? Because they're rehearsing His track record. This is God's resume — full of impossible victories and undeniable power. Every quake, every storm, every miracle is a line item proving He's the same God today as He was then. When God shows up, mountains move. Clouds burst. Creation bows. And remembering that changes the way you face the next battle. We often approach new challenges as if God has never done anything for us before. But your faith needs His resume on file. If He could split seas, bring down walls, send fire from heaven, and turn your heart toward Him, what makes today any different? The God who shook Sinai can shake your situation. The God who marched through Edom can march into your mess. Leaders and followers alike need to remember: God's past performance is the best predictor of His present power. ASK THIS: What's one “Sinai moment” from your past you need to recall today? How does remembering God's victories change the way you face new battles? Where have you been tempted to forget His track record? How can you make recalling God's resume a habit? DO THIS: Write down three major “resume items” from your life where God moved in power. Keep them where you can see them when the next battle comes. PRAY THIS: Lord, I praise You for Your flawless track record. Help me recall Your resume when fear creeps in, and remind me that You've never lost a case. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Same God."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Michael Corbly from West Chester, OH. 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 5:1–3. Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day: “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD! Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.” — Judges 5:1-3 When was the last time you saw a leader praise God before taking praise for a win? The battlefield dust hasn't even settled. The clanging swords are silent. Israel's enemies are scattered. And before anyone can draft a victory speech, Deborah and Barak break out in a song. This isn't casual background music. It's a public, God-centered anthem that shouts two things: Thank God for leaders who lead. Thank God for people who show up. It's a simple truth — leadership matters, but so does followership. Without both, God's purposes in Israel would've stalled. And here's the key: they didn't just acknowledge the human effort; they blessed the Lord. The victory belonged to Him from start to finish. We live in a culture quick to applaud human achievement and slow to give God the glory. Leaders often claim the credit. Followers sometimes forget who carried them through. But the rhythm of the Kingdom is different: leaders lead with humility, followers serve with willingness, and both make God the hero of the story. If you lead — lead in such a way that your first instinct after a win is to point up, not in. If you follow — do it with a willing spirit that makes God's work visible. When leaders lead and people willingly follow, God's name gets lifted higher, and the ripple of His glory moves farther. ASK THIS: When God has given you a victory, do you stop to praise Him before moving on? Are you more naturally a leader or a follower, and how can you honor God in that role? How can you cultivate willingness rather than reluctance in service to God? What's one leadership moment in your life where God got the glory instead of you? DO THIS: Today, thank one leader in your life for their godly influence — and let them know you're praying for their humility and courage. PRAY THIS: Father, thank You for leaders who lead and followers who serve with joy. Teach me to give You the glory in every win and to step willingly into the role You've given me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "All Glory."
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 4:23-24: So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel. And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. — Judges 4:23-24 When God gives the victory, do you hand Him the glory—or do you try to keep a piece for yourself? After Jael's shocking strike, you might think the spotlight belongs to her—or to Deborah for her prophecy—or to Barak for leading the army. But Scripture doesn't allow that. It says plainly: “On that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan.” Yes, Barak fought. Yes, Jael struck. Yes, Deborah led. But it was God who delivered. He orchestrated the storm, routed the army, and fulfilled the prophecy. The text ends by making sure we know the truth: the glory belongs to Him, not them. This is the battlefield of the heart: who gets the glory? God may use your obedience, your courage, even your “tent pegs”—but the glory is His alone. And here's the danger: every time God gives you a win, your flesh will want to steal the credit. Pride whispers, “Look what you did.” But humility shouts, “Look what God has done!” If you take the glory, you rob God of what is rightfully His—and you set yourself up for a fall. Pride is a thief; humility is a shield. So fight hard. Step up with courage. But when the dust clears, drop the crown at His feet. Make it your mission to silence pride before it steals even a sliver of the glory that belongs only to God. ASK THIS: Where in my life am I tempted to take credit for what God has done? How do I usually respond when God gives me a victory—praise or pride? Who could I encourage by giving a testimony that points all glory back to Him? What practical step can I take to guard myself from stealing God's glory? DO THIS: Today, when you share a win or blessing in conversation, make sure you point directly to God as the One who made it possible. Don't keep a shred of the glory for yourself. PRAY THIS: Father, keep me from stealing Your glory. When You give victory, help me humbly give You all the credit, knowing it belongs to You alone. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Yours (Glory and Praise)."
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 4:21-22: But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple. — Judges 4:21-22 What could God do with your ordinary tools if you had the courage to act? This is it—the moment Deborah had prophesied. Sisera, exhausted and convinced he was safe, falls asleep in Jael's tent. And Jael, an ordinary woman with no training in battle, picks up a tent peg and a hammer—the tools of her daily life—and strikes down the mighty commander of Canaan's army. When Barak finally arrives, Jael doesn't just point him to Sisera—she shows him the lifeless body. The prophecy is fulfilled. The honor goes not to Barak, but to an unlikely woman whose courage and obedience changed the course of history. Jael's story is a reminder: God uses unlikely people with ordinary tools to accomplish extraordinary victories. She didn't have a sword. She wasn't wearing armor. She used what she had, where she was, with bold faith. You may feel like you don't have much to offer—just a “tent peg” and a “hammer” in your daily life. But in God's hands, that's enough. Don't underestimate the impact of your simple obedience. The world doesn't need you to be the most powerful man in the room. It needs you to be the most willing. When others hesitated, Jael acted. And because she did, God's Word was fulfilled. ASK THIS: What ordinary “tent peg” has God put in my hand to use for His glory? Do I believe God can use me—even if I feel unqualified or overlooked? How might hesitation keep me from stepping into the role God is calling me to? What step of bold faith can I take today with the tools I already have? DO THIS: Take one “ordinary tool” in your life today—your time, a skill, a relationship—and use it intentionally for God's purposes. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for using unlikely people like Jael. Give me courage to act with what You've placed in my hands, trusting You for the outcome. 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 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: Where in my life do I doubt God could use me because I feel too ordinary? Who around me might God want to use—even if they seem unlikely? What “tent peg” (ordinary tool) has God placed in my hand to serve Him? Am I willing to say yes when God calls, even if I feel unprepared? 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: What “iron chariots” look unbeatable in my life right now? How would I act differently if I truly believed God had already won the battle? Where am I hesitating when I should be stepping into God's promised victory? How can I remind myself daily that I'm fighting from victory, not for it? 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: Where am I hesitating when God has already spoken clearly? What fears keep me from taking the step God is calling me to take? Who might be carrying weight right now because I've delayed obedience? How can I step forward today in faith instead of waiting for more certainty? 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: Where in my life am I waiting for someone else to lead when God has called me to step up? Do I listen to God's voice enough that others would trust me for spiritual guidance? How has passivity hurt the people around me? What step of leadership can I take this week under the “palm tree” of God's Word? 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: What old sin cycle keeps trying to drag me back into bondage? Do I wait until life gets unbearable before I cry out to God? How does the absence of spiritual leadership in my life make me more vulnerable? What's one practical step I can take today to break the cycle? 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: What's the “oxgoad” in my hand that I've overlooked as insignificant? Do I believe God can use my ordinary life for extraordinary impact? Where is God calling me to step up, even if I feel unprepared? How can I trust God today to multiply my small obedience into big impact? 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: Where do I need to blow the trumpet and step out in courage for God? Who might follow my lead if I lived boldly in faith? Do I believe my obedience can impact not just me, but generations? How does Ehud's story challenge my view of faith and courage? 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: What's one area of my life where I feel disqualified or overlooked? How might God want to use that “weakness” as a strength? Do I believe God can deliver in ways I don't expect? Where do I need to step out in bold, Ehud-like faith this week? 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: When was the last time I cried out to God for deliverance instead of trying to fix things myself? Do I believe God's Spirit can work powerfully through me right now? What keeps me from full surrender to God's Spirit? Where in my life do I need to step forward in faith like Othniel? 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: Where have I grown forgetful of God's presence in my daily life? What “false gods” am I tempted to serve in place of him? Have I mistaken slavery to sin for freedom? What daily habit can I build to keep remembering God? 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: Where in your life are you “living among” compromise? What small choice today could grow into big trouble tomorrow? Have you justified something that God clearly calls sin? How can you take a bold step toward holiness this week? 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: What's one battle in your life right now that feels like it should already be over? Do you tend to see trials as punishment or preparation? How can you reframe a current struggle as training from God? Who in your life needs encouragement to keep fighting their God-given battles? 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: What old habits or stubborn ways do I keep returning to? Have I been relying on people more than God's presence? What might God be testing in me right now? Am I asking God to remove the battle—or to strengthen me in it? 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: What has God used in my life to draw me back to him? Have I been ignoring his rescue efforts? Why do I keep returning to what he's already delivered me from? What would it look like to fully respond today? 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: Is there a hardship I'm facing that may be tied to disobedience? How have I misunderstood God's discipline in the past? What warning from God have I ignored for too long? What step of repentance is He inviting me into today? 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: What false gods am I most tempted to chase in this season? How does cultural influence subtly shape my priorities? Have I forgotten how God has rescued and provided for me? What would it look like to return my full loyalty to Him? 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: Am I being intentional about passing on my faith? Who in my life needs to hear what God has done for me? What spiritual habits am I modeling for the next generation? How can I turn assumptions into intentional action today? 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: Have I mistaken sorrow for repentance? What have I wept over but never changed? Is there a sin I've confessed repeatedly but never surrendered? What would actual repentance look like in my life right now? 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: What's one clear instruction from God I've delayed or avoided? Have I made peace with anything God told me to destroy? What “thorns” am I experiencing because of disobedience? What altar needs to be torn down in my life today? 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: Where have I lost spiritual ground by compromising? What enemy have I allowed to reclaim territory in my life? How have I mistaken God's silence for absence? What step of obedience can help me reclaim that ground today? 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."
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 1:27-33: Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them. — Judges 1:27-33 It started small. One tribe didn't fully obey. Then another. Then another. Until compromise became the norm, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali—all of them— failed to drive out the people God had commanded them to remove. And the language is chilling: they did not drive out… they lived among… What began as a delay turned into disobedience. Disobedience evolved into a cultural shift. Before long, coexisting with sin replaced conquering it. Here's the danger: when one man compromises, others will follow. When one tribe accepts partial obedience, others begin to believe it's acceptable. Spiritual apathy is contagious. It numbs courage. It silences conviction. And it spreads through passivity. As Christians, our influence carries weight. Your kids, your friends, your brothers, your church—they're all watching. Not to see perfection, but to see consistency. To see surrender. To see obedience even when it's hard. You may think your compromise only affects you. But it doesn't. It affects your circle. And eventually, it reshapes a culture. Don't underestimate the influence of your obedience—or your passivity. This is your call to drive out what needs to be driven out. Don't coexist with what God has called you to confront. Stand up today, even if others sit down. ASK THIS: What area of my life have I let slide because others around me have? Who's watching my obedience and learning from it? What sin or habit have I tolerated that God has clearly addressed? What would courageous obedience look like today? DO THIS: Identify one spiritual compromise you've tolerated due to others' influence, and take a stand to reject it. PRAY THIS: God, I don't want to blend in with spiritual apathy. Give me the courage to confront what others have ignored and to live fully surrendered to You. Amen PLAY THIS: "Give Me Faith."
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 1:22-26: "The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. (Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.) And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, 'Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.' And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go. And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called its name Luz. That is its name to this day." — Judges 1:22-26 The tribe of Joseph had momentum. God was with them. They were positioned for another victory, and Bethel was next. They scouted the city, found a local man, and made a deal: "Show us the way in, and we'll spare you." It worked. They took the city, but they also let compromise slip in through the side door. The man they spared? He went off and built another city. A city that carried the same old name—Luz—the one God intended to obliterate. Here's the tension: partial obedience appears to be success… for a while. They captured Bethel. But they preserved a piece of what God intended to destroy. They won the battle. But they left the roots of resistance intact. And don't we do the same? We address the major sins, but overlook the smaller ones. We say yes to God, mostly. But we keep one foot in comfort or pride or bitterness. That's not surrender. That's strategy. And your strategy isn't obedience. Sometimes it's a secret shortcut to get what you want, rather than what God wants. Let your strategy go; surrender your selfish strategies to the Lord. Joseph's tribe had the upper hand, and instead of walking in full trust, they chose a shortcut. And shortcuts in faith always leave doors open to the enemy. So here's the question(s): What deal have you made with sin? What obedience have you postponed because partial surrender felt "close enough"? Today is your chance to go all in. Don't let a Luz live on just because it made your life easier for a moment. ASK THIS: Where have I obeyed God only halfway? What deals have I made that compromise long-term faithfulness? How has a shortcut in my past led to struggle today? What does full obedience require of me now? DO THIS: Name one area where you've been cutting corners spiritually—and commit today to close the gap with full obedience. PRAY THIS: Lord, I don't want to win battles while losing trust. Show me where I've made deals with sin, and give me courage to obey You completely. 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 on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 1:16-21: “And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people. And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Judah also captured Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron. And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak. But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.” — Judges 1:16-21 At first glance, things still seem to be moving forward. Judah fights. Victories are won. Cities are claimed. Hormah is renamed after a devastating defeat of the Canaanites. Caleb continues to drive out giants. However, the cracks soon begin to appear. Judah takes the hill country, but they stop short in the plains. Why? Iron chariots. A visible enemy with intimidating strength. And then there's Benjamin. They don't even drive the enemy out. They just let them live there. This is where the shift happens. The faith-filled obedience we saw earlier begins to give way to fear-based compromise. The Lord was with Judah, but that didn't mean it would be easy. Obedience never guarantees comfort. It guarantees conflict with our flesh, our fears, and our enemy. And here's the truth: any area we leave unconquered becomes a future foothold for the enemy. What we tolerate today may torment us tomorrow. Compromise is subtle. We tell ourselves, “I've done enough.” Or “This part isn't so bad.” Or “It's too hard to deal with now.” But unfinished obedience is still disobedience. And letting sin live beside us only weakens our walk. So what have you left unfinished? What stronghold are you ignoring? Where have you stopped short of full surrender? Today's the day to pick up the fight again. Don't settle where God has called you to conquer. ASK THIS: Where have I grown passive in my obedience? What's the “iron chariot” I've been afraid to face? Am I tolerating sin that should be driven out? What would full obedience look like in this season? DO THIS: Identify one area of compromise and take one bold step toward obedience today. PRAY THIS: God, expose the places I've compromised. Give me the courage to fight again and finish what you've asked me to do. 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 1:8-15: “And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire. And afterward the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the lowland. And Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba), and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai. From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher. And Caleb said, ‘He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter for a wife.' And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, ‘What do you want?' She said to him, ‘Give me a blessing. Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.' And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.” — Judges 1:8-15 The conquest continues—and Judah isn't slowing down. City by city, they obey and advance. But embedded in this war-torn section is a beautiful picture of legacy. Caleb—the same man who stood faithful back in Numbers—is still moving forward with bold faith. And he's pulling others into the fight. He throws down a challenge: “Whoever captures Debir gets my daughter's hand in marriage.” It's not just a reward—it's a call to courage and a test of sorts of the type of man he hoped would carry his legacy on. Othniel steps up. And Achsah, Caleb's daughter, isn't passive either. She asks her father for more land, then asks boldly for water. She's not greedy. She's confident. Courage, boldness, and bravery run in the family. This moment isn't about a single conquest; it's a story of leadership character. Caleb isn't just taking territory; he's building a family legacy. His faith didn't start and die in the desert. It grew stronger, and now it lives on through his extended family. Your faith wasn't meant to die with you. It was meant to inspire the next generation. You might not be capturing cities, but are you cultivating courage? Are you raising up sons, daughters, disciples, or friends who trust God boldly? Do those closest to you see a legacy worth following? Caleb didn't retire. He led. He gave. He kept walking in faith until his last breath. Pass on a spiritual legacy to someone today. ASK THIS: Am I building a legacy of faith or just surviving spiritually? Who is watching and learning from my walk with God? What bold step of obedience can I take today? How can I encourage courage in someone else's life? DO THIS: Share one spiritual lesson with someone younger today—something that's shaped your faith. PRAY THIS: Father, let my faith be contagious. Help me build a legacy that honors you and strengthens others. Amen PLAY THIS: "Build My Life."
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 1:3–7: "And Judah said to Simeon his brother, 'Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you.' So Simeon went with him. Then Judah went up and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated 10,000 of them at Bezek. They found Adoni-bezek at Bezek and fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. And Adoni-bezek said, 'Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.' And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there." — Judges 1:3–7 When Judah was chosen to go first, he didn't march into battle solo. He turned to Simeon—his brother—and asked him to come fight alongside him. That was humility. That was wisdom. And the result? Victory. God gave them the Canaanites and Perizzites. Ten thousand defeated. One wicked king was brought to justice. One battle won together. We weren't made to fight alone. Even though God had given Judah the land, he didn't try to earn a solo trophy. He invited his brother to share the mission and share the victory. In our culture, self-made individuals often receive the spotlight. But in God's kingdom, brotherhood and sisterhood are the power move. Real believers know they need backup—because pride isolates, but humility unites. And in this gritty passage, there's also a moment of brutal irony. Adoni-bezek—the cruel king who mutilated others—acknowledges God's justice. “As I have done, so God has repaid me.” Justice finds him. And that's not karma, that divine providence. Even evil kings understand God's justice when they see it. So what do we learn? Spiritual victory requires two things: dependence on God and interdependence with others. Who are you walking with? Who's fighting with you? Or have you been white-knuckling your battles in silence, hoping you can just push through? If so, it's time to humble yourself, link arms with a believer, and face the fight together. Because when we unite in obedience and courage, God always moves in power. ASK THIS: Who's fighting with me in my spiritual battles? Have I let pride keep me from asking for help? How does God use brotherhood to bring victory? What justice from God do I need to trust Him with? DO THIS: Reach out to one stronger believer today. Ask them to pray with you and fight with you spiritually. PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for believers in the battle. Keep me humble enough to ask for help and faithful enough to fight with others by my side. Amen PLAY THIS: "Brother."
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 1:1-2: "After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, 'Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?' The Lord said, 'Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.'" — Judges 1:1-2 The book opens in a moment of loss. Joshua is gone. The strong leader. The voice of God's direction. The man who filled Moses' sandals and led battles with divine clarity. Now? Silence. No commander. No plan. Just questions. But the people do something right—they ask God. And he answers. "Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand." Notice that God doesn't give them a detailed strategy. He just tells them who goes first. And that was enough. Judah. The tribe whose name means praise. The tribe from which kings would come. And eventually—Jesus. Notice God's tense in the statement: "I have given." Not will give. He speaks with certainty. It's the assumptive sale! That's the language of divine sovereignty. Faith isn't based on circumstance—it's based on God's character. But here's the rub: Inquiring is easy. Hearing is easy. Obeying is hard. You've probably asked God for direction lately. Maybe about your job, your marriage, your next move. You've prayed, and maybe you've even sensed what God's telling you. But have you moved? God isn't asking for your full understanding. He's asking for your next step. Obedience doesn't require a detailed map—just faith in the One giving the directions. Take one small step forward today, even if it's just that—small. With God, the land and the territory have already been given. ASK THIS: Where do I feel unsure about my next step? Have I truly asked God, or just tried to figure it out on my own? What's something God has already spoken that I'm hesitating to obey? What would faith look like in motion today? DO THIS: Take one obedient step today in the direction God has already spoken. PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for leading even when I feel uncertain. Help me trust your voice and act on what you've already said. 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 on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Mark 16:19-20: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the gospel everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”— Mark 16:19-20 The curtain closes on Mark's gospel with an unforgettable moment. Jesus lifts off the ground, rising above the clouds, until heaven swallows him up. Gone from sight, he takes his seat of authority beside the Father. Yet his work is far from over. The eleven disciples pour into the streets, fueled by his final words. They preach, pray, and watch God back their message with miracles that turn heads and soften hearts. Jesus' ascension reveals two truths: He reigns in heaven and He empowers on earth. Sitting at God's right hand means his work is complete and perfect. Yet his mission continues through us. When we share the gospel, we aren't alone. The same Lord who conquered death stands with us, backing every word with his power. Too often, we tuck our faith behind closed doors. We think Jesus is distant, leaving us to figure out life on our own. But the ascended Christ rules at God's right hand and stands alongside you today. Your words matter. Your prayers matter. When you step out in obedience, Jesus goes with you. Faith in motion means joining heaven's King in his ongoing work. Let's live as if the Gospel is taking effect in our lives, so that Christ can affect others through us. ASK THIS: How does knowing Jesus reigns from heaven change your confidence in sharing the gospel? When have you felt God confirm your words with a “sign” or answer to prayer? What mission has Jesus given you in your family, workplace, or community? How can you lean more on Christ's power rather than your own efforts this week? DO THIS: Choose one person in your life who hasn't heard the full gospel—send them a message or invite them to coffee, then share the core truth of Christ's death, resurrection, and your own hope in him. PRAY THIS: Lord Jesus, exalted King, thank you for sitting at the Father's right hand and sending me out. Fill me with courage and power so your message changes lives wherever I go. Amen PLAY THIS: "O Worship the Risen Christ."
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 Mark 16:17-18: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” — Mark 16:17-18 The eleven had just heard the Great Commission. Their heads buzzed with the command to “go” and “believe.” Now Jesus adds a list of powerful signs. These weren't magic tricks—they were invitations to partner with heaven. Imagine a room where chains break, tongues speak, poisons lose their sting, and the sick stand up whole. That was the new normal for believers—if they dared to trust. God's kingdom drives back darkness. When we place our faith in Jesus, we discover his power. Casting out demons isn't about fearlessly facing reptiles; it's about rejecting evil. Tongues demonstrate that God can speak in some unexpected ways. Healing and protection demonstrate that life in Christ overcomes death and danger. Too often, we treat our faith like some defensive safety net—only there when we're desperate and under attack. But Jesus calls us into a lifestyle of supernatural offensive partnership. At work, that might mean praying and seeing a broken team find unity. In your neighborhood, it could look like praying over a sick friend and watching them recover. Obedience is faith in offensive motion: leaning into God's power rather than relying on our plans. Let's be more proactive today and be a force for God's work in this life. ASK THIS: Which of these signs—healing, deliverance, new speech—stretches your faith the most? How do you respond when you see someone step out in supernatural trust? Where in your life do you need to rely less on yourself and more on God's power? What small step of faith can you take today to lean into his kingdom work? DO THIS: Pray for someone who is struggling, then place your hand on them (even if it's through a screen or over the phone) and ask Jesus to bring healing. PRAY THIS: Jesus, show me how to trust your power instead of my doubts. Help me step out in faith, so others see your kingdom come. 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 on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Mark 16:15-16: “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'” — Mark 16:15-16 Jesus gathered his friends one last time. The weight of the cross still hung in their minds. But now he stood alive, victorious over death. He gave them a mission: don't conceal, proclaim. Go into every town, every street, every heart, and tell the good news. Believe and be baptized. That simple call would launch the church and shock the world. God's love isn't supposed to be kept to ourselves. When we believe in Jesus, we get caught up in his story, and that story must be told. In addition, baptism is one of those acts that demonstrates our decision: we die to the old life and rise with Christ in a brand new life. Belief is personal but never private; it's powerful and public. Too often, we think the Great Commission is exclusively for pastors or missionaries. However, this command applies everywhere you go: your office, your neighborhood, and even your lunch table. Obedience is faith in motion: speaking truth in everyday moments. Your faith becomes real when you share it—when you invite someone to take that first step of belief and baptism. So, encourage belief in others today and do it yourself. ASK THIS: Who in your circle needs to hear the gospel this week? What fears keep you from starting spiritual conversations? How would your life look if you lived always “sent” instead of “sitting”? What next step can you take to show belief—either in baptism or in bold witness? DO THIS: Identify one person you can tell about Jesus by tomorrow—then send a text, make a call, or invite them for coffee and share the gospel in two sentences. PRAY THIS: Lord, give me boldness to obey your command and share the gospel without apology. Make my words clear and my heart fearless, so others can believe and be saved. 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 Mark Noftsinger from Roanoke, VA. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. This one's for you today. Our text today is Mark 16:12-14: After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. — Mark 16:12-14 Two disciples walk along a dusty road, their hearts heavy with grief. A stranger joins them, yet they fail to recognize Jesus. Later, their excitement spills out as they report the encounter to the others—only to be met with doubt. That evening, around a familiar table, Jesus stands among the eleven and gently rebukes their unbelief. God's power isn't limited to the sights we demand. He meets us in unexpected ways to stretch our faith. Yet our hardened hearts often cling to proof over promise. When Jesus rebukes our doubt, he invites us to trust the faithful witnesses share. In everyday life, we often wait for grand miracles before we step forward. At work, we ignore a colleague's sound advice because we need more evidence. In a family, we question a friend's good intentions, looking only for what we can prove. In our spiritual walk, we often dismiss the testimonies of those who have experienced God's power firsthand. But real faith is not passive; it's action on the word of trusted witnesses. Faith in motion means obeying before we have every detail—leaning into what we've heard, not just what we've seen. When we choose to trust the voices God uses, we open ourselves to deeper encounters with him. So live with more faith today. ASK THIS: Have you ever ignored someone's story of God's work because it didn't match your expectations? What doubts keep you from accepting what fellow believers share? How does Jesus' gentle rebuke challenge your need for constant proof? In what area of your life can you choose to trust what you've heard, even without seeing it yourself? DO THIS: Reach out today to a friend who has shared a testimony of God's faithfulness—listen carefully, thank them, and ask how you can pray for them. PRAY THIS: Lord, soften my heart to receive truth from those you use as your messengers. Help me to trust and obey, even when I haven't seen every proof. PLAY THIS: "Cornerstone."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Gregory Monday from Fairhope, Alabama. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. This one's for you today. Our text today is Mark 16:9-11: “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.” — Mark 16:9-11 Dawn still held a chill when Mary Magdalene trudged to the tomb. Her tears tainted the ground. Then the impossible—he speaks her name. Her sorrow shatters into wonder as she sees the risen Savior. She runs back to the others, heart pounding, voice trembling. But grief has anchored them so profoundly that her good news rings hollow. God often reveals his grace to those the world dismisses first. In sovereign mercy, he chose Mary—once demon-possessed—to be the first witness of resurrection. This reminds us that grace isn't earned by status or perfection but poured out on the humble. Grace uproots despair. Grace transforms mourners into messengers. When our testimony is ignored or scoffed at, it echoes Mary's experience. But God still speaks—first to the lowly, then through the bold. Your story matters, even if others doubt. In your home, workplace, or small group, share what Christ has done for you. Obedience isn't waiting for perfect reception; it's faith in motion despite rejection. So push through your concerns about rejection, because your story matters. It's the truth that shouts about his life. ASK THIS: Have you ever felt dismissed when sharing your faith? How does Jesus' choice of Mary Magdalene encourage you in your weakness? What keeps you from proclaiming the Gospel when people don't listen? How might God be calling you to step out in witness today, even if you expect pushback? DO THIS: Write down one way Jesus has transformed you, then share that brief testimony with a friend or family member by the end of today. PRAY THIS: Lord, give me boldness to speak your resurrection power, even when others doubt my words. Transform my weakness into a witness that points to your unstoppable grace. PLAY THIS: "Testimony."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Rob Kilgour from Ontario, Canada. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. This one's for you today. Our text today is Mark 16:5-8: And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. — Mark 16:5-8 Through the angel's gentle words—“Do not be alarmed” and “He is risen”—we catch a glimpse of a profound reality: God's peace and power dispel our deepest fears. In crushing sorrow, his presence transforms our despair into awe and gives birth to unshakeable hope. This isn't a distant miracle but a living promise that Christ's resurrection redefines our world, lifting us from grief into new life, anchored not in fleeting emotions but in the steadfast truth of his victory over death. Transform your daily routines into moments of faith: when anxiety rises—before a challenging meeting, a tense conversation, or the midday slump—pause and declare aloud, “He is risen, and I need not fear.” Place a sticky note by your mirror or schedule a daily phone reminder at 3 pm to speak, “Do not be alarmed,” as a mid-afternoon reset. Let each spoken truth redirect your focus from stress to scripture, turning every ordinary moment into an opportunity to worship and trust Christ's victory. I am going to do this. Try it with me. #EmptyTomb #Mark16 #NewBeginnings ASK THIS: Which fear or doubt do I need to surrender to the risen Christ today? How has God's past faithfulness strengthened my trust in his present work? Who in my life needs to hear the message “He is risen,” and how can I share it? What difference does it make to live each day under the reality of Christ's victory over death? DO THIS: Write out and speak aloud the phrases, “He is risen” and “Do not be alarmed” each morning to ground your day in Christ's victory. PRAY THIS: Lord Jesus, breathe your resurrection power into my fear and doubt, and remind me daily that you go before me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Living Hope."