The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Get ready to be inspired and transformed with Vince Miller, a renowned author and speaker who has dedicated his life to teaching through the Bible. With over 36 books under his belt, Vince has become a leading voice in the field of manhood, masculinity, fatherhood, mentorship, and leadership. He has been featured on major video and radio platforms such as RightNow Media, Faithlife TV, FaithRadio, and YouVersion, reaching men all over the world. Vince's Daily Devotional has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of providing them with a daily dose of inspiration and guidance. With over 30 years of experience in ministry, Vince is the founder of Resolute. www.vincemiller.com

Symbols of Faith Without Surrender of Faith | Judges 18:11-20 12/24/2025

Symbols of Faith Without Surrender of Faith | Judges 18:11-20 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. And Merry Christmas to you all. Our text today is . So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim. And they passed on from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah. Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.” And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare. Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate. And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war. And when these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. — The Danites raid Micah’s house—not for gold, not for land, but for religion. They take his idols, his ephod, and even his priest. They want everything that looks spiritual—but none of what demands surrender. This is the heart of false faith. It wants the blessing of belief without the burden of obedience. They want a god they can move, not one who moves them. They want a priest who blesses, not one who confronts. They want the look of religion without the Lord of righteousness. It’s the same impulse alive today. We still crave the symbols of faith without submitting to it. We want a baby christened—but not a child discipled. We want a church wedding—but not a marriage that honors God. We want a pastor to conduct our funeral—but not a life spent following Christ. We want faith that makes us feel covered—but never changed. This is why false religion is so attractive: it offers comfort without conviction, community without accountability, and symbols without sanctification. It gives you everything except transformation. The Danites carried off the priest and the idols, thinking they’d secured God’s favor. But they weren’t following God—they were franchising a fake religion. Don't turn faith in God into a performance of externals. Don't settle for “religious moments” in place of regular obedience. God doesn’t want your religious props and symbols; he wants all of you. He is here not to tag along but to transform you. ASK THIS: Where have you settled for symbols instead of surrender? Do you display faith publicly but resist obedience privately? What modern “idols” have you borrowed to make faith feel easier? How can you move from religious performance to real pursuit of God this week? DO THIS: Ask God to expose any area where you’ve kept religion but lost relationship. Read : “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” Replace outward habits with inward devotion—prayer, confession, and obedience. Live today as if God’s presence, not your performance, is what defines your faith. PRAY THIS: Lord, save me from the trap of empty religion. I don’t want symbols of faith; I want surrender. Strip away anything that looks spiritual but keeps me from true obedience to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Christ Be Magnified.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38834720

Don’t Confuse Opportunity With Obedience | Judges 18:7-10 12/23/2025

Don’t Confuse Opportunity With Obedience | Judges 18:7-10 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Our shout-out today goes to Scott Kacos and family. Thank you so much for partnering with us on We cannot do this without you. This is for you today. Our text today is Judges 18:7-10. Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, “What do you report?” They said, “Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land. As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”— Judges 18:7-10 The Danite scouts find Laish—a city that looks perfect. Peaceful. Prosperous. Secure. Everything their own land was not. And they instantly assume, “God has given it into our hands.” But notice—there’s no record of prayer, no word from the Lord, and no evidence of obedience in the moments leading up to this. They mistake opportunity for confirmation. They see abundance and assume it’s God’s blessing. But it’s fake faith—faith built on feelings, not on truth. This is how counterfeit obedience works. It looks spiritual, it sounds hopeful, but it’s driven by convenience and comfort, not conviction. Remember, the Danites didn’t want to fight the Amorites for the land God gave them in Joshua 19. They wanted the easy win, and this was it. Easy victories frequently lead to empty lives. We do the same when we chase the “Laish” in front of us: The job that pays more but pulls us from church. The relationship that feels good but bends God’s truth.| The comfort that whispers, “This has to be right, it’s working.” But not everything that looks right is righteous. Sometimes what looks like God’s favor is just avoidance in disguise. When our faith loses its fight, it starts settling for false flags. And the Danites here traded commands for the convenient conquest—and then called it compliance. Real faith does not do this. It never chases comfort; it counts on God even when the command is challenging. ASK THIS: Where have you confused convenience with God’s calling? What’s your “Laish”—the easy path that tempts you to compromise? Have you been mistaking peace for permission? How can you return to the ground God actually called you to claim? DO THIS: Identify one area where comfort has replaced conviction. Choose faithfulness over feelings this week—even if it costs you ease. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for chasing comfort and calling it faith. Teach me to obey You when the way is hard and to trust You when the road isn’t easy. Give me real faith—not imitation peace. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Trust In God.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38834405

When You Ask God to Bless What You Already Decided | Judges 18:2-6 12/22/2025

When You Ask God to Bless What You Already Decided | Judges 18:2-6 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is . So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.” — The Danite scouts stop by Micah’s house, meet his Levite-for-hire, and ask three questions that sound curious but expose their compromise: “Who brought you here?” “What are you doing in this place?” “Why are you here?” Not one of those questions mentions God. They’re interested in Micah, not in God. It’s a spiritual conversation with no Spirit in it. If this Levite had been faithful, he would have responded very differently: You would go where God sends, not where you choose. You wouldn't stay in a house filled with idols. You would claim the land God already gave you, not shop for easy pickings. But instead, the Levite answers, “Micah has done these things for me.” Not “God brought me.” Not “I serve the Lord.” Just “Micah.” His allegiance—and his paycheck—come from the same source. The Danites and the Levite both prove the same point: they’re using spiritual language to hide spiritual rebellion. The Levite blesses their mission; they leave feeling “confirmed.” But it’s all self-validation dressed up in spiritual garb. We do the same when we call it “discernment,” but it’s really rationalization. When we pray, not to surrender, but to get reassurance. When we say, “God’s got this,” but never ask if God is sending us. Faith without conviction always drifts toward convenience. And convenience disguised as faith is still disobedience. ASK THIS: Are you seeking God’s will—or His approval of your will? Have you ever asked God to bless what He never called you to do? Where have you replaced obedience with rationalization? Who in your life tells you truth instead of what you want to hear? DO THIS: Pause before your next big decision—ask, “Is this obedience or convenience?” Read and invite God to redirect you. Seek counsel from someone who tells you truth, not comfort. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for blessing my own plans in Your name. Teach me to ask Your questions, listen for Your answers, and follow where You lead. Amen. PLAY THIS: “What I Needed.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38823070

Lack of Conviction Leads to Future Compromise | Judges 18:1 12/21/2025

Lack of Conviction Leads to Future Compromise | Judges 18:1 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is . In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. — The story of the tribe of Dan is one of lost conviction. Dan had already been given land by God—its boundaries clearly marked in . But tells us why they never possessed it: they were driven back by the Amorites. Instead of standing firm in faith, they retreated to the hills. They settled for survival rather than fighting for obedience. Now, in , decades later, they’re still wandering—looking for “an inheritance” that was already theirs. It wasn’t that God failed to provide. It was that they failed to believe, obey, and act with conviction. This is the ripple effect of cowardly leadership. When men and women stop living with conviction, they begin living by convenience. What should’ve been conquered through faith now becomes a lifetime of compromise. That’s the Danite story—and sadly, it’s ours too. We do the same when we abandon the ground God has already called us to stand on. We know what’s right, but we don’t want the conflict that comes with it. We back off, blend in, or look for easier paths. And every time we do, we lose spiritual territory that God already gave us to possess. The Danites didn’t need new land—they needed renewed faith. They didn’t need to search for an easier inheritance—they needed to fight for the one God already promised. This is what happens when conviction dies. Faith becomes flexible. Truth becomes negotiable. The mission becomes manageable. And before long, we’re not following God anymore—we’re following comfort. Sound familiar? We see it in families that won’t confront sin, churches that bend to culture, and believers who settle for peace over purity. Every compromise we tolerate today becomes the conflict we inherit tomorrow. The Danites’ failure to lead with conviction didn’t just cost them land—it cost them legacy. When God gives a calling, the only right response is courageous obedience. Anything less invites compromise. ASK THIS: Where in your life have you chosen convenience over conviction? What “land” or area of obedience has God already called you to claim? How does fear of conflict keep you from living with conviction? What would courageous faith look like in that area today? DO THIS: Identify one area of your life where you’ve retreated instead of standing firm. Read : “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Reclaim that ground in prayer and obedience today—don’t keep wandering where God already gave you victory. Commit this week to act from conviction, not convenience. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for backing away from battles You’ve already called me to win. Give me courage to stand, conviction to obey, and faith to take hold of the promises You’ve already given. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Battle Belongs.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38822815

False Confidence in a Fake God | Judges 17:13 12/20/2025

False Confidence in a Fake God | Judges 17:13 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is . “Then Micah said, ‘Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.’” — Micah’s homemade religion is now complete. He’s got a shrine, a priest, and a title. And now—he’s got confidence. “Now I know,” he says, “the Lord will prosper me.” But it’s all fake. Fake priest. Fake faith. Fake confidence. Micah believes he’s in God’s favor simply because everything looks right. But this is the final stage of spiritual delusion: when you mistake comfort for confirmation. He assumes that because his setup feels spiritual, it must be spiritual. That’s what happens when religion becomes self-made—you start measuring faith by your feelings instead of His truth. This is the heart of counterfeit Christianity today. People claim assurance, quote Scripture out of context, or redefine sin, all while drifting further from God’s Word. They’ve built a religion that feels peaceful because it never confronts them. And the more they say “God told me,” the less they actually listen to what God already said. Micah’s confidence wasn’t rooted in Scripture—it was rooted in self-deception. And that’s what makes this so dangerous. You can be completely convinced you’re right with God and still be miles from Him if your faith isn’t built on truth. We also see this in the church. Whole movements chase emotional experiences but ignore biblical obedience. Believers trust in positive feelings, prosperity, or political comfort instead of God’s holiness. It’s the American version of Micah’s religion—comfort without conviction, blessing without obedience, and faith without truth. False confidence always feels strong—right up until the truth tests it. So here’s the question I would present to you: Is your confidence based on God’s Word—or your own worldview? ASK THIS: Where are you mistaking spiritual comfort for spiritual confirmation? What beliefs or habits have you justified that don’t line up with God’s Word? Have you built confidence on truth—or convenience? How can you anchor your assurance in Scripture instead of emotion? DO THIS: Take a truth inventory: what do you believe that’s not clearly rooted in Scripture? Replace assumptions with alignment—submit your confidence to God’s Word. Pray for humility to let God’s truth confront your comfort. PRAY THIS: Father, I don’t want false confidence. Expose any lie I’ve believed about You or about myself. Anchor my assurance in Your truth—not in feelings, comfort, or imitation faith. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Build My Life.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38474065

Fake Ordination, Fake Faith | Judges 17:12 12/19/2025

Fake Ordination, Fake Faith | Judges 17:12 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is . “And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.” — Micah finally finishes building his fake religion. He’s got a shrine, a priest, and now an “ordination.” It sounds holy—but it’s hollow. Micah “ordains” a Levite, believing that if he calls it spiritual, it becomes spiritual. He convinces himself it’s from God simply because he said so. But that’s not faith—that’s fabrication. This is what happens when people stop grounding their beliefs in Scripture. They start declaring things “from God” that God never said. They replace divine revelation with human imagination—and then call it holy. It’s the birth of self-made religion. Micah didn’t reject God outright; he simply replaced God’s authority with his own. And that’s what makes false faith so deceptive—it looks spiritual while quietly dethroning God. When we start believing our feelings carry the same weight as God’s Word, we’ve already started building our own religion. We see it everywhere today. People say, “God told me to be happy,” or “God just wants me to live my truth,” or “Love is love—so it must be holy.” But if it contradicts Scripture, it’s not revelation—it’s rebellion. Calling something “anointed” doesn’t make it approved. Micah’s fake ordination is a warning to every believer who wants spiritual authority without scriptural submission. God’s blessing doesn’t rest on what sounds right or feels right—it rests on what is true. And here’s the danger: when fake ordination goes unchecked, it breeds fake faith. Micah thought ordaining a Levite would make him holy, but both of them were lost—confident, religious, and completely wrong. That’s what happens when we build a faith not on the foundation of God’s Word but on the echo of our opinions. It may look spiritual, but it leads people away from truth. And a lie repeated in God’s name is still a lie. True authority doesn’t come from our declarations—it comes from God’s revelation. The moment we separate “God said” from what God wrote, we’re not worshiping Him anymore—we’re worshiping our own imagination. ASK THIS: Have you ever declared something “from God” that wasn’t grounded in Scripture? Where do you see culture redefining truth and calling it faith? How can you better discern between human opinion and divine authority? What step can you take today to anchor your faith more deeply in God’s Word? DO THIS: Test every “God idea” against Scripture before you believe or share it. Read : “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching… and will turn away from listening to the truth.” PRAY THIS: Lord, keep me from creating a version of faith that fits my feelings. Anchor me in Your Word so deeply that I can spot false truth from a mile away. Teach me to follow revelation, not imagination. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Holy Spirit Come.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38473815

Borrowed Faith Leads to Bought Faith | Judges 17:10-11 12/18/2025

Borrowed Faith Leads to Bought Faith | Judges 17:10-11 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 17:10-11. “And Micah said to him, ‘Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.’ And the Levite went in. And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons.” — Judges 17:10-11 Micah’s religion has now become a business deal. He hires the Levite—ten pieces of silver a year, new clothes, free housing. It’s faith on payroll. What began as borrowed faith has now turned into bought faith. Micah thinks that by hiring a holy man, he can buy holy favor. It’s spiritual consumerism—the idea that God’s presence can be purchased if we just find the right people, say the right words, or make the right donation. But you can’t buy what only grace can give. Micah wanted divine legitimacy without surrendering to the divine. He didn’t want to be changed; he wanted to feel covered. He didn’t want the presence of God; he wanted the appearance of blessing. So he threw money at religion like it was a spiritual vending machine. And before we judge Micah, we should ask—do we do the same? We start thinking that giving more, serving harder, or knowing the right people will earn God’s favor. We assume that being around “spiritual” people makes us spiritual too. But that’s not faith—that’s a transaction. We see it everywhere: churches chasing charisma over conviction, money over mission, platforms over prayer. Believers often confuse activity with intimacy, assuming that attendance or effort earns them grace points with God. But God’s presence isn’t for sale. His power isn’t a product. His favor doesn’t run on contract—it runs on covenant. Micah missed that entirely. He thought hiring a priest made him holy, but all he did was build a payroll for pride. He tried to control what could only be received. That’s the trap of bought faith—it turns worship into work and relationship into ritual. It trades intimacy for image. It pays for what’s already been purchased—by the blood of Jesus. The gospel flips that thinking: you can’t buy God’s presence, but you can surrender to it. You can’t earn grace, but you can receive it. So receive it today. And stop trying to earn it. ASK THIS: Where are you trying to earn what God already offers freely? Have you ever mistaken spiritual activity for intimacy with God? What do you rely on more—God’s grace or your own performance? How can you rest in the truth that grace is received, not achieved? DO THIS: Take inventory of where you’ve been “performing” for God instead of walking with Him. Stop treating faith like a transaction—spend time with God without an agenda today. Thank God for his grace today. PRAY THIS: Father, thank You that grace can’t be bought or earned. Forgive me for trying to perform my way into Your favor. Teach me to receive Your presence as a gift, not a payment. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Grace Alone.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38473675

Borrowed Faith Is Broke | Judges 17:7-9 12/17/2025

Borrowed Faith Is Broke | Judges 17:7-9 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is . “Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. And Micah said to him, ‘Where do you come from?’ And he said to him, ‘I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.’” — Micah’s story takes another turn when a wandering Levite shows up. This young man has the right background, the right bloodline, and the right credentials—and Micah sees his chance. Maybe if he brings a Levite into his house, it’ll make his homemade religion look legitimate. Micah’s faith was hollow, but this priest-for-hire could make it look holy. He didn’t want to change his heart; he wanted to polish his appearance. That’s what borrowed faith does—it looks spiritual from the outside but lacks life on the inside. And if we’re honest, a lot of believers today are living on borrowed faith. We lean on our pastor’s passion, our parents’ prayers, our spouse’s convictions. We admire other people’s intimacy with God instead of pursuing our own. We’ve mastered secondhand spirituality—reading popular Christian living books instead of Scripture, reposting verses instead of living them, attending church instead of being the church. Borrowed faith looks convincing—but it collapses when tested. Because borrowed faith can get you through a sermon, but not a storm. It can quote Scripture but won’t stand on it. It’s the illusion of devotion without the evidence of obedience. That’s exactly what Micah was doing. He wanted to hire holiness—to buy credibility without surrender. He invited a Levite into his home, but he never invited the Lord into his heart. And what started as borrowed faith soon became broken faith. This story is a reminder and a warning for us. Whole generations have been raised near faith but not in it. We’ve confused proximity with intimacy, attendance with relationship, influence with anointing. But God can’t be subcontracted. You can’t borrow someone else’s righteousness or lease someone else’s conviction. The only faith that lasts is the faith you actually live. So go live it. ASK THIS: Whose faith have you been borrowing instead of developing your own? Do you find more comfort in looking spiritual than in obeying God? When was the last time your personal time with God shaped your decisions, not just your emotions? What would it take for your faith to become firsthand again? DO THIS: Identify one area where you’ve been relying on borrowed faith—church, parents, friends, or leaders. Replace it with firsthand obedience this week. Pray, study, and apply truth yourself. PRAY THIS: Father, I don’t want to live on borrowed faith. I don’t want secondhand conviction or part-time obedience. Teach me to know You firsthand—to walk with You daily, not through someone else’s devotion, but through my own surrender. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Run to the Father.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38473475

The Rise of DIY Religion | Judges 17:5-6 12/16/2025

The Rise of DIY Religion | Judges 17:5-6 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Micah’s home has now turned into a shrine. What began as a sentimental blessing has become a full-blown counterfeit religion. He makes an ephod, sets up household gods, and ordains his own son as priest. He’s no longer just bending the rules—he’s building a new religion entirely. This is what happens when personal compromise becomes public culture. Verse 6 gives us the diagnosis for an entire generation: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” When you remove God’s authority, all you’re left with is opinion. And opinion, when elevated to truth, becomes clutter. Micah’s story is ancient, but it sounds painfully modern. We live in an age of “Build-A-God” spirituality. People pick and choose beliefs like toppings on a pizza—keep the love, lose the wrath; keep the grace, ditch the repentance. We want a faith that feels personal but never confronts. We call it authenticity, but it’s really autonomy in disguise. We see it everywhere. “I’m spiritual, not religious.” “My truth is my truth.” “God just wants me to be happy.” These are the slogans of a society that has traded holiness for self-help and discipleship for self-discovery. And here’s the danger: customized faith always leads to counterfeit worship. When you decide what’s right for you instead of what’s true before God, you stop worshiping Him—you start worshiping you. Micah built a religion that worked for him, but it couldn’t save him. The same is true for us. A God who always agrees with you can’t change you. A faith that never offends you will never transform you. The real God draws lines because He loves us. He sets boundaries because He knows what sin destroys. Micah’s shrine wasn’t just a problem of misplaced silver—it was a problem of misplaced worship. He didn’t stop worshiping; he just switched the object. And that’s what happens to us when we treat faith like a mirror instead of a window—we stop seeing God and start seeing ourselves. We don’t need a God who works for us—we need a God who works on us. The gospel isn’t about making God fit our preferences; it’s about letting Him reshape our hearts. ASK THIS: Have you ever tried to build a version of faith that “fits” your lifestyle? Where have you made peace with sin by calling it “personal conviction”? How does Micah’s example warn us about the dangers of self-made religion? What truth have you been tempted to rewrite to make life easier? DO THIS: Read : “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” Repent of any area where you’ve been “editing” God’s authority to fit your comfort. PRAY THIS: Father, I don’t want a faith that fits my comfort—I want a faith that changes my character. Save me from the kind of religion that worships me instead of You. Tear down every idol I’ve built in my own image and bring me back under Your truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Christ Be Magnified.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38473090

Good Intention Is Still Bad Theology | Judges 17:3-4 12/15/2025

Good Intention Is Still Bad Theology | Judges 17:3-4 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 17:3-4: “And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, ‘I dedicate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.’ So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah.” — Judges 17:3-4 Micah’s mother meant well—but meaning well doesn’t make something right. She takes stolen silver, dedicates it “to the Lord,” and then uses it to fund an idol. It’s one of the strangest contradictions in Scripture: a mom trying to honor God by disobeying Him. But this is where sentimental faith always leads. Yesterday, she blessed what God condemned. Today, she’s building what God forbade. When we refuse to confront sin, it doesn’t just sit quietly—it grows bold. You can almost hear her logic: “I’m doing this for God. It’s my way of worship.” But the moment we start serving God our way, we stop serving Him His way. Micah’s mother didn’t reject the Lord; she redefined Him. She wanted God’s presence and blessing without God’s authority. And that’s the same deception shaping modern faith. We’ve learned to baptize disobedience in religious language. Parents fund their kids’ sinful choices and call it love. Churches adopt the world’s ideologies and call it outreach. Politicians quote Bible verses while endorsing laws that mock God’s design. It’s all the same move—blessing what God condemns and calling it righteousness. But God is not impressed by sincerity when it’s married to sin. Good intentions don’t turn rebellion into righteousness. When we fund what He forbids, we don’t build faith—we build idols. We see it in the culture of “progressive Christianity.” We want inclusion without repentance, affirmation without transformation, and spirituality without submission. We think God should evolve with our culture, when in truth, we are the ones called to conform to His holiness. The tragedy of Micah’s home is that it looked religious but lived rebellious. It had silver crosses and carved idols, blessings and blasphemy side by side. And that’s what happens when love loses its spine—sentimentality becomes sin, and truth is replaced by tolerance. ASK THIS: Where are you tempted to justify sin with “good intentions”? How does your home reflect what you really believe about God’s boundaries? Have you ever supported something “for love’s sake” that you knew dishonored God? What would it look like to love your family with conviction instead of compromise? DO THIS: Ask God to reveal one area where you’ve been “blessing” what He condemns. Repent by naming it for what it is—not “progress,” not “love,” but sin. Have one honest conversation this week with someone who needs truth spoken in love. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for blessing what You’ve already called sin. Give me courage to love with conviction, to call truth what You call truth, and to stop confusing kindness with compromise. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Holy (Song of the Ages).” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38472855

How Parents Lose Truth in the Name of Tolerance | Judges 17:1-2 12/14/2025

How Parents Lose Truth in the Name of Tolerance | Judges 17:1-2 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. And he said to his mother, "The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse and also spoke it in my ears—behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by the Lord." — This scene looks simple—a son confesses theft, and a mother blesses him. But underneath it is something tragic. Micah steals from his own mother, admits it, and instead of correction, she offers him a blessing in God’s name. It sounds spiritual—but it’s sentimental. Micah’s mom believes in God, but she won’t confront sin. She wants to keep peace, not stir conflict. Her love is sincere, but her silence is deadly. She redefines righteousness as “being nice,” and in doing so, she turns blessing into approval of sin. And here’s the cost: when parents won’t draw the line, children stop seeing one. When we’re silent about sin, we teach the next generation that God’s boundaries are optional—that His truth bends for our emotions. Micah’s mother wasn’t leading her son to God; she was leading him away by confusing blessing with permission. Sound familiar? We see it every day. Christian parents who believe in the Bible—but when their kids walk into sin, they go quiet. They’re afraid to offend, afraid to seem “judgmental,” afraid to lose the relationship. So they soften the truth, stay silent, or even give their blessing to lifestyles and choices that God clearly calls sin. It’s the Micah mistake—wanting God’s blessing without His boundaries. We say things like, “I just want my kids to be happy,” when God calls us to want our kids to be holy. We call it love, but it’s really fear wearing a mask of compassion. We live in a world that calls confrontation “hate” and tolerance “love.” But God calls love something higher—truth spoken with courage, even when it hurts. Real love doesn’t wink at sin; it weeps over it. It points people, even our own children, back to the God who saves, not the one we invent to make everyone comfortable. Micah’s mother wanted God in her home but not on His terms. And that’s where idolatry always starts—in homes that believe but won’t obey. God doesn’t bless sentimental faith. He blesses surrendered faith. Love without truth isn’t love—it’s permission. And truth without love isn’t truth—it’s pride. The real God won’t bend to our emotions, preferences, or family politics. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our job isn’t to adjust Him—it’s to align with Him. ASK THIS: Have you ever confused love with tolerance in your home or relationships? What message does silence about sin send to your children or those you influence? Where do you need to speak truth in love, even if it risks tension? How can you model both conviction and compassion like Jesus did? DO THIS: Identify one area where you’ve softened God’s truth out of fear or sentimentality. Pray for wisdom and courage to address it with both love and clarity. PRAY THIS: Father, forgive me for loving comfort more than conviction. Help me to love my family enough to tell them the truth. Give me courage to draw boundaries that lead to life—and grace to speak truth in love. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Fear Is Not My Future.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38472615

The Final Words of the Strong Man | Judges 16:28-31 12/13/2025

The Final Words of the Strong Man | Judges 16:28-31 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines.’ Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.” — Samson’s life was a rollercoaster of wasted potential—flashes of power, but riddled with pride, lust, and compromise. He fought enemies, but mostly on his own terms. Until now. In his final moments, blind and humbled, Samson prayed: “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once.” Then, the text says, “he bowed with all his strength.” That line changes everything. Samson finally used all his strength in God’s way. For the first time, his power wasn’t about proving himself, chasing pleasure, or showing off. It was about surrender. With his final act, Samson lived out the calling God gave him from the beginning—to deliver Israel from the Philistines. This is what surrender looks like: using all you have, not for yourself, but for God. And ironically, it was in death that Samson accomplished more than in life. His final words and final act remind us that true strength is never self-made—it’s God-given, and it’s God-directed. Our culture teaches us to spend our strength proving ourselves, building platforms, or chasing tolerance and applause. But in God’s economy, your greatest strength shows up when you bow. Your calling is fulfilled when your strength is finally surrendered to His purpose. And Samson’s story points us forward to Christ. Jesus, too, stretched out His arms, surrendered His life, and in what looked like defeat, He fulfilled His mission. In surrender came victory—once for all. ASK THIS: Where have you been using your strength for yourself instead of God? How does Samson’s final act of surrender redefine what true strength looks like? What would it mean for you to “bow with all your strength” today? How can your surrender fulfill the calling God placed on your life? DO THIS: Pray for the courage to bow low and surrender it to Him. Write down one way you will use your strength for God’s purpose this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, may I not waste the strength You’ve given me. Teach me to bow with all my strength—not for myself, but for You. May my final words and daily actions echo a surrender to Your purpose. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464775

Humbled But Not Forgotten | Judges 16:22-27 12/12/2025

Humbled But Not Forgotten | Judges 16:22-27 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, ‘Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.’ And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, ‘Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.’ And when their hearts were merry, they said, ‘Call Samson, that he may entertain us.’ So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, ‘Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.’ Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.” — The last time we saw Samson, he was blinded, bound, and grinding in Gaza. His strength was gone, his dignity destroyed, and his calling in shambles. But tucked into verse 22 is a whisper of hope: “But the hair of his head began to grow again.” That single line reminds us that God wasn’t done. Even in failure, grace was at work. Samson couldn’t see it, but the God who set him apart before birth hadn’t abandoned him. Meanwhile, the Philistines were throwing a party. They praised their false god and mocked Samson as entertainment. It looked like evil had won, that God’s man was finished, that compromise had written the final chapter. And isn’t that how failure feels in our lives? When you’ve given in, when you’ve lost the fight, when culture mocks you for standing on the wrong side of “tolerance”—you feel finished. Look at our own nation. We’ve compromised on marriage, family, and sexuality. We’re mocked on the global stage for holding to biblical convictions. Closer to home, we’re mocked for turning to God in prayer, ridiculed for standing up for our convictions on college campuses, and even fired for voicing biblical values in the workplace. Yet even now, God isn’t finished with His people. Like Samson’s hair growing in the shadows, grace is still at work—even in the dark places. If you’ve failed, don’t believe the lie that God is done with you. Grace is often hidden, subtle, even slow—but it is always moving. The hair grows back. And let’s be honest—even bald men can still make a difference for the next generation when they’re surrendered to God. It’s not about what’s on your head; it’s about who’s in your heart. ASK THIS: Where do you feel like failure has the last word in your life? How does Samson’s quiet restoration give you hope? Where can you see God’s grace “growing back” in your own story, even if others can’t see it yet? How can you encourage someone else who feels written off by failure? DO THIS: Pray and surrender it to God, asking Him to redeem it. Write down a “but God” statement (e.g., “I failed here, but God is still working.”) PRAY THIS: Father, thank You that failure is never the end of the story with You. When I am humbled, remind me that Your grace is still at work. Grow in me what I cannot see, and use me again for Your glory. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Grace Greater.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464720

The Cost of Toxic Empathy In Gaza | Judges 16:18-21 12/11/2025

The Cost of Toxic Empathy In Gaza | Judges 16:18-21 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.’ Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ And he awoke from his sleep and said, ‘I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.” — Yesterday, Samson gave in to Delilah’s toxic empathy. He mistook love for surrender, compassion for compromise. And the moment he did, the trap was sprung. His vow was broken. His strength was gone. Notice the devastating effects: Blinded: His eyes gouged out—sin always blinds us first, dulling our discernment. Bound: Shackled in bronze—compromise doesn’t free you; it chains you. Ground down: Forced to grind grain in prison—the mighty judge of Israel reduced to slave labor. This is the natural progression of toxic empathy and social tolerance. When you give up righteousness to avoid being labeled “intolerant,” you don’t just lose ground—you lose sight. You lose freedom. You lose strength. We also see it in culture. Churches that once stood firm on God’s Word now compromise to be “welcoming.” Leaders soften the truth so they won’t be misunderstood. Families surrender holiness in the name of keeping peace. And just like Samson, the strength departs—and many don’t even realize God’s presence has left the room. Look again at Gaza. It was the city Samson once strutted out of with the gates on his shoulders (). Now it’s the city where he’s paraded around in chains. The very place where he thought he was untouchable becomes the place of his humiliation. That’s the effect of compromise: What you once thought you mastered eventually masters you. ASK THIS: Where have you mistaken tolerance for love, and ended up weakening your faith? How has compromise blinded you to sin’s danger? What “chains” do you feel in your life right now because of past concessions? How can you return to strength by standing firm in God’s truth again? DO THIS: Write down one area where compromise has robbed you of strength. This week, resist one small cultural lie with clear, biblical truth. PRAY THIS: Father, forgive me for the places I’ve traded truth for acceptance. Open my eyes where I’ve been blinded. Break the chains where I’ve been bound. Restore my strength so I can walk faithfully with You again. Amen. PLAY THIS: “No Compromise.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464555

The Danger of Toxic Empathy | Judges 16:15-17 12/10/2025

The Danger of Toxic Empathy | Judges 16:15-17 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “And she said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.’ And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. And he told her all his heart, and said to her, ‘A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.’” — Delilah didn’t defeat Samson with force—she wore him down with feelings. “If you love me, prove it. If you care, give me this. If you don’t, you’re holding back.” Samson caved, not because he was overpowered, but because he couldn’t stand the weight of emotional manipulation. This is called "toxic empathy"—the kind of false compassion that confuses love with surrender. Toxic empathy says: “If you love me, you’ll accept what I want, even if it violates your convictions.” It’s empathy weaponized. And doesn’t that sound familiar? Our culture preaches a version of tolerance that demands the death of truth. “Affirm my choices, celebrate my lifestyle, bless my rebellion—or else you’re hateful, judgmental, intolerant.” That’s the same spirit Delilah used on Samson: emotional blackmail to make him lay down what God called sacred. Samson gave in, and in doing so, he forfeited his righteousness. He handed over the very thing God set apart in him. And when believers cave to cultural “tolerance,” we do the same. We give up holiness for acceptance. We trade truth for applause. We exchange conviction for the cheap approval of people who don’t worship our God. Love can be loving without surrendering truth. Jesus was the most compassionate man who ever lived, yet he never compromised truth or righteousness. He loved sinners without affirming their sin. And we are called to do the same. Toxic empathy may appear to be kindness, but in the end, it costs us our strength, integrity, and influence. So love, without compromise. ASK THIS: Where are you tempted to compromise truth because you don’t want to be misunderstood? How does “toxic empathy” show up in your relationships or workplace? When have you traded conviction for cultural acceptance? What would it look like to love people with compassion but without surrendering righteousness? DO THIS: Identify one area where you feel pressured to soften or surrender God’s truth. Pray for courage to hold the line with grace and conviction. Practice speaking truth in love this week—kindly, but clearly. Memorize : “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” PRAY THIS: Lord, help me resist the pull of toxic empathy. Give me courage to love people with grace, but never at the cost of Your truth. Strengthen me to stand firm when culture demands tolerance that violates righteousness. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464490

Death by a Thousand Lies | Judges 16:10-14 12/09/2025

Death by a Thousand Lies | Judges 16:10-14 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies; please tell me how you might be bound.’ And he said to her, ‘If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.’ So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread. Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.’ And he said to her, ‘If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.’ So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.” — Delilah wasn’t subtle anymore. By now it was obvious: she was working with the Philistines to trap Samson. She asked, and he answered with half-truths and games. She tested him, and he kept breaking free. Over and over again, Samson played along. Why? Because repeated lies dull our senses. At first, you know it’s a setup. You laugh it off, you toy with it, you think you’re still in control. But the more you tolerate it, the less dangerous it feels. Eventually, what once seemed unthinkable becomes normal. That’s exactly how sin and culture work today. We’re told the same falsehoods so often, people start to believe them: “You be you.” “You've got this.” “Truth is whatever you feel.” “Gender is just a choice.” “Faith doesn’t belong in the workplace. Keep it to yourself.” Repeat a lie long enough, and people let their guard down. Israel did it with Gaza—tolerating an enemy they should have driven out—and generations later, that compromise still haunts them. We’ve seen the same thing in our time. Take marriage. Marriage was once honored in our culture as a covenant between a man and a woman. Now it’s redefined, mocked, and replaced with hookup culture and hyper-sexualism in nearly every movie, ad, and classroom. Lies repeated long enough become the air we breathe, and if we’re not alert, we start to tolerate what God never intended. Samson thought he was just playing games. But every laugh, every half-truth, every little compromise was softening him up for the kill. That’s how lies work—they don’t strike all at once; they wear you down. And we face the same danger. You can’t toy with deception and expect to stand strong. Every time you entertain a lie, it dulls your discernment, lowers your guard, and prepares you for a bigger fall. Left unchecked, small lies become chains—and eventually, those chains own you. ASK THIS: Where are you letting repeated lies numb your discernment? Which cultural “half-truths” are you tempted to tolerate because they’re everywhere? How has compromise in small things weakened you in bigger battles? DO THIS: Identify one lie you’ve started to accept without thinking. Hold it up against Scripture—what does God actually say? Replace that lie with a verse of truth (write it, memorize it, share it). PRAY THIS: Lord, open my eyes to the lies I’ve started to tolerate. Give me discernment to see through deception and strength to stand on Your truth, no matter how often the world repeats its lies. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Voice of Truth.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464415

What You Tolerate Will Take You Down | Judges 16:4-9 12/08/2025

What You Tolerate Will Take You Down | Judges 16:4-9 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is : “After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ‘Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.’ So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.’ Samson said to her, ‘If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.’ Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.” — Samson fell in love with Delilah. On the outside, it probably looked harmless—even romantic. But underneath, the Philistine rulers were using her to unravel him. Notice their strategy: not an ambush, not an outright attack, but seduction. Quiet. Subtle. Patient. That’s how sin usually works. Rarely does the enemy come at you with flashing lights and a sword in hand. More often, he whispers through slow compromise, through small concessions that seem harmless—until you realize you’ve been tied up. And here’s the irony: Samson kept playing along. He knew she was setting him up, but he continued to entertain the idea. He tolerated the danger, thinking he could handle it. That’s exactly how sin works in us. What we entertain today eventually enslaves us tomorrow. This is still happening now. Just look around. Our culture seduces us with subtle compromises—porn normalized as entertainment, propaganda hidden in schools, news outlets, and governments selling the lie that we can trade truth for comfort and cultural ideologies. Like Israel tolerating Gaza for generations, many believers today tolerate little footholds of sin, thinking they won’t matter. But they do. Small compromises left unchecked lead to devastating collapse. Sin doesn’t usually take you out all at once. It wears you down until you give away what you never meant to lose. ASK THIS: Where are you tolerating small compromises in your life right now? Why do you think subtle temptations feel safer than obvious ones? How can you recognize when sin is “wearing you down” before it’s too late? What cultural lies are you tempted to tolerate instead of resisting? DO THIS: Identify: One “small” compromise you’ve been tolerating. Confess: Ask God to help you shut the door before it grows. Pay attention: Is culture shaping your convictions—or is God’s Word? PRAY THIS: Lord, open my eyes to the subtle compromises that wear me down. Give me the courage to resist what seems small, and the wisdom to guard what You’ve set apart in me. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Lord, I Need You.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464325

Temptation In Gaza Continues To Burn | Judges 16:1-3 12/07/2025

Temptation In Gaza Continues To Burn | Judges 16:1-3 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is “Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. The Gazites were told, ‘Samson has come here.’ And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, ‘Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.’ But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.” — Samson walked straight into Gaza—the heart of Philistine territory—to spend the night with a prostitute. On the surface, he got away with it. At midnight, he ripped the city gates from their foundations, carried them on his shoulders, and walked away like a man untouchable. But Gaza wasn’t just any city. Then and now, Gaza has been a hotspot of conflict—a place where compromise, corruption, and resistance to God’s people have festered for generations. What Israel tolerated in Gaza back then still plagues them today. It’s a sobering reminder that sins left unchecked don’t just fade with time—they multiply. Samson thought he was strong enough to dip into enemy territory and walk away. In reality, Gaza became another crack in his armor, another step toward downfall. That’s how temptation works. It whispers, “You’re strong enough. You can manage this. You’ll be fine.” But every compromise weakens us. Every trip into enemy territory costs more than we realize. You can’t flirt with sin and expect to walk away unscathed. The little compromises we excuse today often grow into the strongholds that enslave us tomorrow. God calls us not to manage temptation, but to flee from it. ASK THIS: Where are you tempted to flirt with sin, thinking you can handle it? How has “getting away with it” in the past made you careless toward temptation? What compromises have you tolerated that now feel like strongholds? What escape route do you need to take before the fire burns you? DO THIS: Identify: One temptation you’ve been “managing” instead of fleeing. Confess: That one temptation, honestly to God today. Action: Take one concrete step to remove access to that temptation (delete, block, avoid, or confess). PRAY THIS: Lord, I admit I’ve played too close to the fire. Forgive me for flirting with sin. Give me the wisdom to run from temptation and the strength to rely on You instead of myself. Amen. PLAY THIS: “God, Turn It Around.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38464280

The Thirst Only God Can Satisfy | Judges 15:18-20 12/06/2025

The Thirst Only God Can Satisfy | Judges 15:18-20 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is “And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, ‘You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; it is at Lehi to this day. And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.” — Think about the irony here. Yesterday, Samson had boasted in his own strength: “With the jawbone of a donkey, I struck down a thousand men.” He took credit for God’s win. But today, he’s gasping for breath, parched with thirst, and he cries out: “God, You gave me this victory—are You going to let me die now?” In other words, when things went well, it was all Samson. When things went wrong, it was all God’s fault. Pride when it suits him. Blame when it doesn’t. Sound familiar? We do the same. We take credit for the promotion, the healed relationship, the successful project. Then the moment we hit a wall, we turn on God: “Why are You letting this happen? Where are You now?” Here’s the stunning part of the story: even with Samson’s pride and finger-pointing, God still provides. He cracks open rock. Water flows. Samson is revived. Grace pours out where it’s least deserved. That’s the heart of our God. He provides not because we always get it right, but because He is always faithful. And Samson’s thirst points us forward to Jesus, who said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” (). Victories won’t quench your soul. Pride won’t satisfy your thirst. Blame won’t fix your emptiness. Only grace can. And grace flows even when you don’t deserve it. ASK THIS: When have you taken credit for God’s work in your life? Where are you quick to blame God when life gets hard? How does it change you to know He still provides, even when your attitude is wrong? What “thirst” do you need to bring honestly before Him today? DO THIS: Reflect: Where have you recently taken credit for God’s work—or blamed Him for your struggles? Confess: Both honestly in prayer. Ask: God to meet your deepest thirst with His grace. PRAY THIS: Father, I confess my pride in taking credit when things go well and my blame when things fall apart. Yet you still provide. Thank you for pouring out grace even when I don’t deserve it. Satisfy my thirst in you alone. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Living Water.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38440695

When Success Goes To Your Head | Judges 15:16-17 12/05/2025

When Success Goes To Your Head | Judges 15:16-17 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is “And Samson said, ‘With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.’ As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand. And that place was called Ramath-lehi.” — Samson had just experienced one of the most incredible victories in his life. Bound by ropes, surrounded by enemies, he was suddenly filled with the Spirit of God. With nothing but a donkey’s jawbone, he struck down a thousand Philistines. But listen to what he says afterward. Listen carefully. “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, have I struck down a thousand men.” No mention of God. No credit to the Spirit. Just Samson boasting about Samson. Sound familiar? Victory often tempts us to shift the spotlight. We crush a project at work and secretly think, “Look what I did.” A relationship improves, and we say, “I finally figured it out.” Even in ministry, we can pat ourselves on the back after a win instead of lifting our eyes to heaven. Pride in victory steals glory from God and puts us on shaky ground. The truth is, Samson didn’t kill a thousand men because he was clever with a jawbone. He didn’t snap ropes because of sheer strength. The Spirit did that. The Spirit rushed in, gave him power, and made the impossible possible. The same is true for us. Any success we enjoy—big or small—is by God’s hand. Pride takes what God did and rebrands it as our accomplishment. And the moment we start stealing God’s glory, we set ourselves up for a fall. But humility reverses the script. Humility says, “God did this. I’m just holding the jawbone.” ASK THIS: Where in your life are you tempted to take credit instead of giving God glory? Why does success so often make us forget God’s role in the victory? What would it look like to redirect praise to God in your current season? How can humility actually deepen your joy in the victories He gives? DO THIS: Identify one recent “victory” in your life. Out loud, thank God for it specifically: “Lord, You did this.” PRAY THIS: Father, I confess I love to take credit for what only You could have done. Keep me humble in victory. Teach me to give glory back to You in every success. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Nothing Else.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38440470

Bound But Not Broken | Judges 15:14-15 12/04/2025

Bound But Not Broken | Judges 15:14-15 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. — Samson walked into Lehi tied up. Not by the Philistines, but by his own people. That had to sting. Three thousand of his brothers bound him with ropes and handed him over. To everyone watching, it looked like the end. The Philistines saw a man restrained, contained, and defeated before the fight even started. They shouted in victory before they’d even lifted a sword. Maybe you’ve been there. Bound not just by circumstances, but by betrayal, disappointment, or shame. You walk into a situation feeling powerless. People write you off. The enemy shouts too soon. You hear voices in your head: You’ll never break free. You’ll never change. You’ll never win. But then—God’s Spirit shows up. The text says the Spirit of the Lord “rushed upon him.” Instantly, what looked impossible changed. The ropes fell away like burnt thread. The bonds melted as if they were nothing. Samson reached for the only thing nearby—a donkey’s jawbone—and God turned it into a weapon of victory. You may be bound, but you are not broken. The ropes on your life are real. Addiction is real. Fear is real. Regret is real. Wounds from betrayal are real. But they are not final. The Spirit of God can snap what holds you. The Spirit can melt what seems permanent. The Spirit can turn even the most ordinary thing into a tool for victory. Your ropes don’t define you. God’s Spirit does. So if you’re feeling tied down today—by sin, by failure, by the weight of life—you need to know: the same Spirit who rushed on Samson lives in you. And the same Spirit can set you free. ASK THIS: Where do you feel most bound in your life right now? How have you seen God’s Spirit break through in the past? What would it look like to stop relying on willpower and invite the Spirit into this battle? Who in your life needs to hear that they may be bound but not broken? DO THIS: Write down the “rope” that feels like it has you tied up. Name it specifically. Share your struggle with a trusted friend and invite them to pray with you. Watch for God to use something small or unexpected (like a jawbone) as part of your freedom story. PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, I feel bound, but I believe I’m not broken. Rush into my weakness, snap the ropes I can’t break, and give me strength to walk free in Your power. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Break Every Chain.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38440330

When Your Own People Let You Down | Judges 15:9-13 12/03/2025

When Your Own People Let You Down | Judges 15:9-13 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is “Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi. And the men of Judah said, ‘Why have you come up against us?’ They said, ‘We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.’ Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, ‘Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?’ And he said to them, ‘As they did to me, so have I done to them.’ And they said to him, ‘We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.’ And Samson said to them, ‘Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.’ They said to him, ‘No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.’ So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.” — The Philistines were furious with Samson. But instead of standing with their fellow Israelites, the men of Judah bowed to the pressure. Three thousand of his own brothers came to Samson—not to fight for him, but to tie him up and hand him over. That betrayal cuts deep. It wasn’t just enemies after Samson—it was his own people. Sometimes the hardest hits don’t come from outsiders, but insiders. People you trust will eventually disappoint you, but God never will. Never! Maybe you’ve felt that sting. A spouse who didn’t stand up for you. Friends who vanished when you needed them most. A church that didn’t support you. The pain is real. But Samson’s story shows us something—being bound by people doesn’t mean being abandoned by God. Even when those closest to you give in to fear or pressure, God’s purpose is still unfolding. You might feel tied up, let down, or betrayed, but the Spirit of God is never bound. His plan doesn’t stop when people fail you. ASK THIS: When have you felt most let down by someone close to you? How did that disappointment shape your faith? Where are you tempted to let betrayal define your trust in others—or in God? How does God’s unbreakable faithfulness give you hope in those moments? DO THIS: Think of one disappointment still weighing on you. Take it to God in prayer, naming it honestly. PRAY THIS: Father, You know the pain of being let down by those closest to me. Thank You that when people fail, You remain faithful. Help me rest in Your unshakable presence. Amen. PLAY THIS: “You Never Let Go.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38439420

When Conflict Spins Out of Control | Judges 15:6-8 12/02/2025

When Conflict Spins Out of Control | Judges 15:6-8 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is “Then the Philistines said, ‘Who has done this?’ And they said, ‘Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.’ And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. And Samson said to them, ‘If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit.’ And he struck them hip and thigh with a great blow, and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.” — Look at the spiral. Samson burns fields.The Philistines burn his wife and father-in-law. Samson slaughters them back. It’s eye for eye, burn for burn, blow for blow. And the body count keeps rising. This is how anger works. It rarely stays small. It grows teeth. It multiplies. It escalates until everyone loses. Payback feels powerful—but it always makes situations worse. You know this cycle. A word said in anger leads to another. A jab at the family gathering explodes into a feud. A cold shoulder stretches into years of silence. Nobody remembers how it started, but everyone’s still bleeding. The way of Christ is different. He broke the cycle. Instead of retaliation, He chose surrender. Instead of lashing back, He absorbed the cost. At the cross, He stopped the spiral so peace could start. And that’s the invitation to us: don’t add fuel to the fire. Be stronger. Be resolved. Be the one who ends the cycle. ASK THIS: Where are you stuck in a back-and-forth cycle of conflict right now? How has anger made things bigger than they ever needed to be? What would it cost you to stop escalating and choose peace? How can Jesus’ example shape your response? DO THIS: Identify one conflict that’s escalating. Decide today: “I will not add fuel.” Take a humble step to break the cycle—apologize, soften your tone, or listen first. PRAY THIS: Lord, I don’t want to live in the spiral of payback. Help me stop adding fuel. Give me the humility and courage to be a peacemaker like You. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Peace Be Still.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38439305

The Illusion of Getting Even | Judges 15:3-5 12/01/2025

The Illusion of Getting Even | Judges 15:3-5 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to Steve Winton from Lakeland, FL. Your commitment through helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is “And Samson said to them, ‘This time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines, when I do them harm.’ So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails. And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards.” — Samson is furious. His wife’s father gave her away to another man, and now humiliation burns inside him. So he cooks up a plan—literally. He ties torches between the tails of 300 foxes and lets them loose in Philistine fields, torching grain and olive orchards. For Samson, it felt like justice. For the Philistines, it was destruction. And shortly, the retaliation would escalate. That’s the way revenge works—it feels satisfying for a moment, but it never ends there. It multiplies the misery. Revenge never heals your hurt; it multiplies it. When you’ve been betrayed or wronged, the urge to “get even” screams loud. We daydream about comebacks, plots, or even just the perfect cutting words. And for a moment, it feels powerful. But it never brings peace—it only fans the flames of bitterness. Samson’s fire scorched the Philistines, but it also scorched his future. His revenge didn’t settle the score; it made the fight bigger. God calls us to a better way. says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” God can handle justice better than you ever could. Revenge chains you to anger; forgiveness frees you to live. ASK THIS: Where are you tempted to “get even” right now? How have you seen revenge backfire in your life before? Why is it so hard to trust God with justice? What might forgiveness free you from today? DO THIS: Write down the name of the person you want revenge on. Pray: “God, vengeance belongs to You. I give this into Your hands.” PRAY THIS: Lord, You see the hurt in my heart. I want revenge, but I choose to release it to You. Free me from bitterness, and help me trust You with justice. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Battle Belongs.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38439160

When People Betray You | Judges 15:1-2 11/30/2025

When People Betray You | Judges 15:1-2 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to Charles Olaughlin from Shelbina, MO. Your commitment through helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is “After some days, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat. And he said, ‘I will go in to my wife in the chamber.’ But her father would not allow him to go in. And her father said, ‘I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.’” — Picture Samson walking up to his wife’s home. He’s holding a goat—his version of flowers and chocolates—ready to make things right. Maybe he’s nervous. Maybe he’s hopeful. But when he arrives, the door slams shut. Her father blocks the way: “She’s gone. I gave her to another man. But hey—her younger sister’s prettier. Take her instead.” That’s not just rejection—that’s betrayal. That’s humiliation. Samson was replaced. You’ve probably felt it too. Maybe not from a father-in-law who rejected you, but from someone who once promised loyalty, love, or friendship. A spouse who walked away. A friend who ghosted. A parent who didn’t show up. A boss who passed you over. Betrayal makes you feel small, discarded, unwanted. Know this: people’s betrayal doesn’t define your worth, because God’s faithfulness never wavers. When rejection strikes, our first instinct is to spiral into anger, bitterness, or even revenge. Samson will go there in the verses ahead. But God offers another way: let betrayal drive you into His arms. He is the Friend who never leaves. The Father who never abandons. The Bridegroom who never breaks covenant. That wound of betrayal may always leave a scar, but it does not decide your story. God’s promise does: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” — . So don’t let rejection name you. Let God’s faithfulness claim you. ASK THIS: Who has betrayed you in a way that still stings today? How has rejection shaped the way you see yourself? Do you believe God’s faithfulness is stronger than people’s failures? What step can you take today to release bitterness and rest in His promises? DO THIS: Write down the name of someone who betrayed or rejected you. Pray: “Lord, heal what they broke, and help me trust You more than I trust people.” Read or say three times today as a reminder that God never abandons you. Share this truth with someone else who’s wrestling with rejection. PRAY THIS: Father, You know the sting of betrayal better than anyone. When others fail me, remind me that You never will. Heal my wounds and anchor my worth in Your faithfulness. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Faithful Now.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38438995

Don’t Confuse God’s Power with His Approval | Judges 14:19-20 11/29/2025

Don’t Confuse God’s Power with His Approval | Judges 14:19-20 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to George Truesdale from Cocoa Beach, FL. Your commitment through helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house. And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man. — Samson is furious. He’s lost his bet, been manipulated by his wife, and humiliated in front of his enemies. In rage, he storms down to Ashkelon and kills thirty men to settle the score. And here’s the shocking part—the Spirit of the Lord rushes upon him. This is where it gets tricky. God still used Samson’s actions to confront Israel’s enemies. But Samson’s heart was in the wrong place—driven by anger, not obedience. He would confuse God’s power with God’s approval. Just because God uses you doesn’t mean he approves of how you’re living. This is a hard pill to swallow. A sermon can land even if the preacher’s hiding sin. A business deal can succeed even if corners were cut. A gift can look fruitful while the heart is far from God. Power and results don’t always equal God’s pleasure. Samson’s story warns us—God’s calling is irrevocable, but his approval rests on obedience. His Spirit may still work, but sin always leaves wreckage. Samson was used by God, yet left broken, angry, and estranged. Don’t mistake God’s patience for permission or his power for a green light. What he wants most isn’t just results—it’s your heart. ASK THIS: Where have you been tempted to measure God’s approval by your success? Is there an area of your life where you’re “winning” but not obeying? What’s one area you need to realign with God’s will today? DO THIS: Identify one place in your life where results have blinded you to disobedience. Confess it to God in prayer. Commit one act of obedience this week that costs you something but honors God. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You that You still work through weak and broken people like me. Keep me from confusing Your power with Your approval. Align my heart with Yours so that my life brings You pleasure, not just results. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Heart of Worship.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38424885

The Trap of People-Pleasing | Judges 14:15-18 11/28/2025

The Trap of People-Pleasing | Judges 14:15-18 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to Ronald Stephans. Your commitment through helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is “On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, ‘Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?’ And Samson’s wife wept over him and said, ‘You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.’ And he said to her, ‘Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?’ She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, ‘What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?’ And he said to them, ‘If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.’”— Samson’s wife was terrified. Her own people threatened her life, so she turned the pressure onto Samson. For seven days, she cried, nagged, and manipulated until Samson finally caved. He betrayed his own secret because he couldn’t stand the weight of her demands. That’s the trap of people-pleasing. We think giving in will relieve the pressure. But it only leads to more loss. Samson lost the bet, his dignity, and the trust he had placed in his wife—all because he couldn’t stand firm under pressure. Here’s the truth: if you live for people’s approval, you’ll die by their rejection. Family expectations, cultural pressure, the need to please everyone at the holiday table—these are heavy loads. However, when you give in just to maintain peace, you often lose yourself, and sometimes you lose God’s blessing in the process. The call of Scripture is clear: seek to please God first. Paul put it this way in : “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” That doesn’t mean we stop loving people. But it does mean we draw boundaries and learn to stand firm in truth, even when the pressure is unbearable. ASK THIS: Where in your life do you feel the heaviest family pressure? How are you tempted to compromise truth just to keep others happy? Do you believe pleasing God first will actually free you from the weight of people-pleasing? DO THIS: Name the main source of pressure in your life right now. Pray over it, asking God for courage to honor Him above all. Set one healthy boundary this week with a person or situation that drains you. PRAY THIS: Father, I confess I often give in to people instead of standing firm in You. Give me courage to please You first, even when the pressure is heavy. Amen. PLAY THIS: “The Stand.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38424710

Don’t Gamble With God’s Blessings | Judges 14:10-14 11/27/2025

Don’t Gamble With God’s Blessings | Judges 14:10-14 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And today’s a special one—it’s Thanksgiving Day. Today’s shout-out goes to Marcus Sanfilippo from Flagler Beach, FL. Your commitment through helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is “His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do. As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. And Samson said to them, ‘Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.’ And they said to him, ‘Put your riddle, that we may hear it.’ And he said to them, ‘Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.’ And in three days they could not solve the riddle.” — Samson had just been given a miracle—God’s Spirit gave him victory over a lion. Days later, instead of remembering that moment with gratitude, he turned it into a riddle at a party. He literally gambled with God’s blessing, making it about his wit and his pride. That’s the danger for us, too. Instead of letting God’s gifts draw us to worship, we make them about us. We downplay His provision, take credit for His work, or use His blessings for our own advantage. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day where we stop, notice God’s gifts, and give Him glory. But how often do we blow past His blessings—treating them casually, like Samson did? Gratitude guards God’s glory, but pride gambles it away. When you see the hand of God in your life—answered prayers, provision, protection—don’t turn it into a joke, a boast, or a throwaway moment. Slow down. Say thank you. Point the glory back to Him. Thanksgiving isn’t just one day on the calendar. It’s a lifestyle that protects us from Samson’s mistake—taking a gift and making it a game. ASK THIS: What blessings in your life have you treated casually instead of giving thanks? How can gratitude change the way you see God’s provision? Where has pride robbed God of the glory He deserves in your story? What are three specific things you can thank God for today? DO THIS: Write down a list of 10 things you’re thankful for right now. Share at least one of them with your family or friends at the table today. Take one blessing you’ve been tempted to take credit for, and thank God out loud for it. End your Thanksgiving by praying a prayer of gratitude, not just for food, but for His faithfulness. PRAY THIS: Father, thank You for every gift You’ve given me. Forgive me for the times I’ve taken Your blessings lightly. Today I give You glory, not just for the food on my table, but for every victory and every provision in my life. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Give Thanks.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38424530

When Everyone Does What’s Right in Their Own Eyes | Faith + State | Judges 14 11/26/2025

Finding Honey in Hardship | Judges 14:7-9 11/26/2025

Finding Honey in Hardship | Judges 14:7-9 Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today’s shout-out goes to Tom Reid from Elma, NY. Your commitment through helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you. Our text today is Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes. After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion. — Samson returns to the place of his battle—the lion he killed. The carcass is still there, but now it holds something unexpected: honey. Sweetness from death. Provision from decay. That’s a strange image, but it mirrors how life feels. Struggles often leave us staring at carcasses—loss, regret, brokenness. We stand there asking, “Why did this happen? Can anything good come out of this mess?” In those moments, it feels pointless. Empty. Even cruel. But here’s what Samson’s discovery whispers: what feels wasted may still hold hidden sweetness. God is able to bring nourishment from the very places you thought were only marked by loss. Your struggle may feel like a dead end, but God can make it a doorway. That diagnosis. That divorce. That failure. That season of grief. It might feel like nothing more than a carcass in your life. But don’t miss this—God specializes in bringing blessing out of brokenness. Samson scraped honey from the carcass of a lion; Jesus brought life out of the grave. The greatest sweetness came from the greatest struggle—the cross. So if you’re staring at something that feels wasted, don’t walk away too quickly. God may be preparing honey where you only see death. ASK THIS: Where in your life are you staring at a “carcass” and struggling to see hope? How have you seen God bring sweetness out of hardship in the past? What would change if you believed God was already working in your pain? How does Jesus’ victory at the cross give you hope in your present struggle? DO THIS: Identify one struggle you currently see as pointless. Ask God specifically to show you where He is working in it. Share one “sweetness from struggle” story with someone today to encourage them. Each time you feel bitterness this week, pray: “Lord, turn this into honey.” PRAY THIS: Father, I confess that sometimes my pain feels wasted. But I trust You can bring sweetness from struggle, just as You brought life from death at the cross. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Graves Into Gardens.” /episode/index/show/resolute/id/38424270

The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

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