The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: “tent peg” 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: DO THIS: Identify one “ordinary tool” in your life—time, skill, relationship—and pray for God to use it in an extraordinary way this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for choosing unlikely people like Jael. Use me, with whatever I have, to be part of Your plan today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Available."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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