The Daily Dose

Don’t lose Strength

When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. ~ Judges 8:4

There’s a kind of exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix. It’s the kind that comes from carrying responsibility for too long, walking through disappointment, or continuing to obey God while still waiting to see the outcome. You keep moving, but deep down you wonder how much longer you can keep going.

Today’s scripture reading picks up after a major victory, yet Gideon and his men were still pursuing the enemy. They had already seen God move, but the assignment wasn’t finished yet. They were tired, worn down, and still pressing forward.

I think many believers can relate to that place. You’ve prayed, trusted, served, forgiven, stood in faith, and yet there are still battles to face. Sometimes we assume that once God gives victory in one area, everything should instantly become easy and what follows is peace for evermore. But as long as we are alive, God will continue to do a good work in us.

Here are three truths to hold onto when you feel weary but know God is still calling you forward.

1. You can be exhausted and still faithful

Judges 8:4 says Gideon’s men were exhausted, yet they kept pursuing. God never denied their weariness, but He also didn’t tell them to quit because of it. Being tired doesn’t mean you’re failing. Sometimes it simply means you’ve been faithfully fighting battles that matter.

You may feel emotionally drained from caring for your family, walking through a difficult season in your marriage, or continuing to believe God for breakthrough in an area that hasn’t changed yet. Don’t mistake exhaustion for defeat. Keep bringing your weakness to God and ask Him to strengthen you one step at a time.

2. Not everyone will support you while you’re pursuing what God said

As Gideon and his men continued forward, they asked for help from others and were refused. Instead of encouragement, they encountered resistance. There will be moments when the people you hoped would support you don’t understand what God is asking you to do.

Maybe you’re stepping into ministry, making a faith decision, or changing direction in your life, and instead of support you receive criticism or hesitation. Don’t allow the opinions of others to stop your obedience. Continue doing what you have been called to do, even if everyone around you doesn’t fully see it yet.

3. Victory must be handled with humility

After the battle, the people wanted to make Gideon king because of the victory he experienced. Gideon understood that the victory belonged to God, not to himself. When God begins moving in your life, stay dependent on Him. It’s easy to start well and then slowly shift into self-reliance.

When opportunities increase or doors begin opening, continue praying, listening, and giving God the credit instead of assuming you can handle things in your own strength. Humility keeps your heart in the right place to continue hearing Him clearly.

There was a time in my life when I felt emotionally exhausted from carrying so many responsibilities at once. There were ministry commitments, family needs, personal struggles, and moments where I honestly wondered if I had anything left to give. I kept thinking that if I could just get through one more situation, then things would finally calm down. But it seemed like every time one challenge ended, another began.

One morning while praying, I sensed the Holy Spirit reminding me that I didn’t have to carry everything in my own strength. That may sound simple, but at the time I had been trying to push through by determination alone. I realized I had been depending more on my ability to hold things together than on God’s strength to sustain me.

Little by little, I began giving those burdens back to Him daily instead of carrying them into every situation. The circumstances didn’t instantly disappear, but my heart changed in the middle of them. I found peace where anxiety had been and strength where exhaustion had settled in. God showed me that faithfulness doesn’t mean pretending you’re never tired. It means continuing to trust Him even while you’re weary.

Today I want to encourage you, if you feel exhausted in the middle of your battle, don’t give up now. God sees every step you’ve taken, every prayer you’ve prayed, and every moment you’ve continued forward even when it felt difficult. Just because you’re weary doesn’t mean God has left you. He is still strengthening you for the journey ahead. Like Gideon, you may feel tired, but you can still pursue what God has placed before you. Stay faithful, stay humble, and keep trusting Him to carry you through every unfinished battle.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 8

1 Now the men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” And they reprimanded him sharply.

2 So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 

3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

4 When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. 

5 Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”

6 And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

7 So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” 

8 Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 

9 So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower!”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen. 

11 Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure. 

12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.

13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Heres. 

14 And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 

15 Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’ ” 

16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 

17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?”

So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.”

19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 

20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.

21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”

23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” 

24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.

25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 

26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks. 

27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.

29Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 

30 Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives. 

31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 

32 Now Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. 

34 Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 

35 nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.

Journal:

• Where in my life do I currently feel exhausted but still called to keep moving forward
• Have I allowed discouragement or lack of support from others to affect my obedience to God
• What burdens have I been carrying in my own strength instead of giving to the Lord
• How can I intentionally depend on God’s strength in this season instead of my own

Less is more

And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ ~ Judges 7:2

Doesn’t it feel backwards when you’re facing something overwhelming and your instinct is to gather more, more help, more resources, more reassurance. You want to feel prepared and you want to feel secure. But what if the very thing you’re relying on is the thing God wants to reduce.

In Judges 7, Gideon starts with thousands of men, already feeling outnumbered by the enemy, but God says it’s too many. One by one, the number is reduced until only 300 remain. It doesn’t make sense in the natural. It feels risky, even exposed, but God wasn’t trying to make Gideon weaker. He was positioning him to see clearly that the victory would come from Him alone. Sometimes God removes what you think you need so you can discover what you actually have in Him.

Here are three truths to hold onto when God starts to reduce what feels necessary:

1. God reduces so you can rely on Him

God intentionally brought Gideon down to 300 men so there would be no confusion about where the victory came from. If Gideon had won with thousands, it would have been easy to take credit. With 300, it was undeniable Who deserved the glory.

When something in your life feels like it’s shrinking instead of growing, don’t assume it’s a setback. Maybe you expected more support, more opportunity, or more resources, and instead things feel limited. Instead of striving to fix it immediately, pause and ask, “God, what are You showing me to trust You with?”

If you’re stepping into something new and don’t feel fully equipped, lean into prayer and obedience instead of trying to control every detail. Sometimes God is removing your safety net so you can see His faithfulness more clearly.

2. God uses what seems unconventional

The strategy God gave Gideon didn’t look like a typical battle plan. No swords, no aggressive charge. Just jars, torches, and trumpets. It was unusual, unexpected, and completely dependent on God moving in the moment.

God’s direction in your life may not always look logical, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
If you feel prompted to do something that doesn’t fit the normal pattern, don’t dismiss it too quickly.

If God nudges you to respond with kindness instead of defending yourself, or to give when it doesn’t make sense financially, trust that His way produces results you can’t manufacture on your own. Obedience may feel uncomfortable, but it opens the door for God to reach into the situation.

3. God goes before you to confirm His promise

Before the battle even began, God allowed Gideon to overhear a conversation in the enemy’s camp that confirmed the victory was already set. God knew Gideon needed that reassurance and provided it at the right moment.

God often gives you glimpses of confirmation along the way, but you have to be willing to listen.
If you’re feeling uncertain, pay attention to the ways God is speaking, through His Word, through others, or through a sense of peace in your spirit.

If you’ve been praying about a decision and suddenly the same message keeps showing up in different ways, don’t ignore it. Let it strengthen your confidence to move forward.

There have been many moments in my life where things didn’t come together the way I expected. One that stands out clearly happened about three years ago when we were scheduled to take a trip to Israel. I had prayed and sought the Lord diligently as we were deciding if the timing was right and if this was truly the direction He was leading us. By the time we made the decision to go, I had a clear sense that this was part of His plan.

Then, two weeks before we were scheduled to leave, everything changed. The nation of Israel declared a state of war with nearby countries. Travel shut down, the airport closed, and just like that our trip was canceled. I was deeply disappointed, especially because I felt so certain that God had led us there. Of course, we continued to pray for Israel and everything they were facing, but I still found myself asking why the Holy Spirit would lead us in that direction only for it to fall apart.

About two weeks later, as we were working through the refund process for the trip we had already paid for, the booking agent presented us with an alternative option. There was an opportunity to take an Apostle Paul tour through Greece. The trip included a cruise through several Greek islands, and one of the stops was the island of Patmos.

I was floored! Patmos had been on my heart years earlier, something the Lord had quietly placed there, but I had never seriously considered planning a trip around it. I remember thinking, who actually plans a trip to Patmos?

Even though the original plan didn’t turn out the way I expected, and I questioned if I had somehow missed it, I kept moving forward with what was in front of me. As I did, I began to see God’s hand in ways I couldn’t have arranged myself. What felt like a disruption was actually a redirection.

Looking back now, I can see it so clearly. God wasn’t confused and He didn’t change His mind. He was working out details that I couldn’t see at the time. If we hadn’t already paid for the trip to Israel, we wouldn’t even be looking at alternative trips at that time. What felt like a loss was actually part of a greater plan, one that was more personal and meaningful than I had imagined.

That experience showed me something I carry with me now. When God leads you, it doesn’t mean every step will look the way you expect. Sometimes things will be reduced, shifted, or rerouted, but that doesn’t mean you’re off track. It means He’s working all things together for a good outcome for those who love Him. Just like Gideon had to walk forward with less and trust God to bring the victory, I had to walk forward without all the answers and trust that God was working behind the scenes because He was.

Today I want to encourage you, if things feel smaller, slower, or more uncertain than you expected, don’t assume you’re off track. God may be removing what would distract you so He can show you what He can do. You don’t need more to step into what He’s called you to do, you need trust. What He’s placed in your hands right now is enough when He is the one leading you. Stay obedient, stay attentive, and watch how He brings victory in a way that only He can.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 7

1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.

2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 

3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.” 

5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” 

6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. 

7 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.” 

8 So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

9 It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 

10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 

11 and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. 

12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

13 And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”

14 Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”

15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” 

16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. 

17 And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 

18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!’ ”

19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 

20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” 

21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. 

22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.

23 And the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.

24 Then Gideon sent messengers throughout all the mountains of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites, and seize from them the watering places as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan.” Then all the men of Ephraim gathered together and seized the watering places as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan. 

25 And they captured two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.

Journal:

• Where in my life does it feel like things are being reduced or stripped back
• What am I currently relying on that God may be asking me to release
• What step of obedience feels unconventional but keeps coming back to my heart
• How has God already given me confirmation that He is leading me forward

Who are you becoming

 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” ~ Judges 6:12

Have you ever felt completely unqualified for something you knew in your heart you were supposed to do. Not just unsure, but almost certain you were the wrong person. That tension between what you feel and what God is saying can feel uncomfortable, even confusing. It’s the place where excuses start forming and where you can begin to shrink back instead of step forward.

In today’s scripture reading, we find Gideon hiding in a winepress, trying to survive in a season of fear and oppression. Right there, in the middle of his hiding, God calls him something he clearly didn’t believe about himself, a mighty warrior. Not after he proved himself, not after he gained confidence, but right in the middle of his weakness.

That’s how God works. He speaks to who you are becoming, not just where you are right now.

Below are three truths that can help you recognize what God is doing in your life and how to respond when you feel unqualified.

1. God sees identity before you do

Gideon saw himself as the least, the weakest, the one who didn’t measure up. But God spoke directly to his identity, not his insecurity. God wasn’t confused about who Gideon was, Gideon was chosen and mighty.

When you hear God prompting you to step into something, pay attention to what He’s saying about you, not what you’re saying about yourself. If you feel led to speak up, serve, or lead, but your first thought is “I’m not good at that,” pause. Instead of agreeing with that thought, begin to say what God says. “God is with me. He will help me.” You may not feel like a “mighty warrior,” but obedience starts by agreeing with His perspective, not your fear.

2. God calls you in the middle of the process

Gideon wasn’t ready by human standards. He was hiding but that didn’t disqualify him, it was the exact place where God met him. God doesn’t wait for you to feel ready, He calls you and then walks with you as you grow into it.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you say yes. Maybe God is prompting you to reach out to someone, take a step in ministry, or make a decision that feels bigger than you. Instead of waiting until you feel confident, take the next small step. If you feel led to encourage someone but you’re unsure what to say, send the text anyway. Trust that God will meet you in the action, not just in the planning.

3. God is patient with your questions, but He still calls you forward

Gideon asked for signs. More than once. He wrestled with doubt and needed reassurance, yet God, in His kindness, responded. But even with the reassurance, the expectation remained the same, Gideon still had to step out in faith.

It’s okay to bring your questions to God, but don’t stay stuck in them. If you find yourself hesitating, ask God for clarity, then move when He answers. For example, if you’re unsure about a decision, pray, listen, and then take a step based on what you know or found in His Word. Don’t let overthinking keep you from moving forward in obedience.

I’ve had moments where I felt that same internal resistance. One time, I felt prompted to reach out to someone I hadn’t spoken to in a while. Everything in me wanted to ignore it. I told myself it wasn’t a big deal, that I could do it later. But that nudge didn’t go away. When I finally responded and reached out, I found out they were going through something heavy and needed encouragement right then. What felt small to me was significant to God. If I had continued to push it off, I would have missed that moment and there would have been no encouragement shared.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that God sees more in you than you currently see in yourself. He is not waiting for you to become ready, He is inviting you to trust Him right now. Just like Gideon, you may feel hidden, unsure, or even resistant, but God’s call on your life is still active. When He speaks, it’s not based on your limitations, it’s based on His purpose. Say yes in the small moments. Take the next step. Trust that He is with you, and that is more than enough.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 6

1 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So, the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 

2 and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains. 

3 So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. 

4 Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. 

5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. 

6 So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, 

8 that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; 

9 and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 

10 Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ”

Gideon

11 Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 

12 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

13 Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

16 And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

17 Then he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. 

18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.”

And He said, “I will wait until you come back.”

19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. 

20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so.

21 Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”

23 Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” 

24 So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; 

26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down.” 

27 So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the Lord had said to him. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night.

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built. 

29 So they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And when they had inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” 

30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that was beside it.”

31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!” 

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar.”

33 Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 

34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. 

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

36 So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— 

37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 

38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” 

40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.

Journal:

• What has God been prompting me to do that I’ve been hesitant to respond to
• What thoughts or excuses do I tend to believe when I feel unqualified
• What would it look like for me to take one small step of obedience today
• Where have I seen God meet me after I chose to step out in faith

The song after the battle

Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: “When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord! ~ Judges 5:1-2

What if your breakthrough isn’t just about the victory, but also about the praise that comes out of you as a result of it? Today’s scripture reading is a powerful song of victory sung by Deborah and Barak after God delivered Israel. It wasn’t just a celebration, it was a declaration. It told the story of what God had done, who stepped up in faith, and who held back. It reminds us that God moves through willing hearts, and every person has a part in His plan.

As children of God today, we’re still called into that same kind of partnership with Him. He is moving, He is calling, and He is looking for those who are willing to step forward in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.

Here are three powerful truths from this chapter and how they can shape our daily lives:

1. Willing hearts make room for God to move

Judges 5:2 highlights those who willingly offered themselves. God didn’t force anyone, He worked through those who said yes.  In your daily life, this might look like choosing to step into something you feel unqualified for. Maybe it’s praying with someone, leading a small group, or simply speaking encouragement when you feel hesitant. When you say yes, even in small ways, you give God space to work through your life.

For example, you might feel a nudge to check on a friend who’s been on your heart. It would be easy to ignore it, but choosing to reach out could be exactly how God brings comfort into their life. Your willingness matters more than your perfection.

2. Your response matters more than your position

In the song, some tribes stepped up to help, while others stayed behind. The difference wasn’t ability, it was response.  In your life today, it can be easy to think that impact is reserved for certain people, but God is looking at your heart, not your title. In your current season, your response to His prompting carries weight.

For example, you may feel like what you have to offer is small, maybe it’s your time, your prayers, or your kindness. But choosing to act on what God places in front of you can shift more than you realize. It’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing your part.

3. Remembering God’s faithfulness strengthens your future

Judges 5 is a song that remembers. It recounts what God did so the people would not forget His power and provision.  In your life, taking time to remember what God has already done builds confidence for what’s ahead. When you face new challenges, you won’t feel as shaken because you’ve seen His faithfulness before.

For example, when you’re walking through a difficult situation, remind yourself of a time God came through for you. Speak it out, write it down, revisit it often. It will strengthen your faith and steady your heart when things feel uncertain.

This has happened many times in my own life. It has particularly shown up when God opened opportunities within the women’s and small group ministries at my church. He started asking me to step forward in ways that felt uncomfortable and even inconvenient. I didn’t always feel ready, and sometimes I questioned whether I was really the right person for the job or if I could actually make a difference. But as I chose to be willing, even in small steps, I began to see Him move in big ways I never expected. Looking back now, I can clearly see that those moments of saying yes were not just about obedience, they were about growth, trust, and learning to depend on Him more deeply.

Today I want to encourage you to be willing, to say yes when God prompts your heart, and to remember that your response matters. Just like in Judges 5, God is still moving through those who offer themselves. As you step forward, don’t forget to lift your own song of praise when you see His faithfulness. Your willingness can become part of a greater story of victory, faith, and purpose, and your praise will remind you and others that it was God who brought you through.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 5

1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:

2 “When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!

3 “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth trembled and the heavens poured, The clouds also poured water;

5 The mountains gushed before the Lord, This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways.

7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the Lord!

10 “Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges’ attire, And who walk along the road.

11 Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord, The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel; Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates.

12 “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!

13 “Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The Lord came down for me against the mighty.

14 From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek. After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, From Machir rulers came down, And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.

18 Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

19 “The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver.

20 They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.

21 The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!

22 Then the horses’ hooves pounded, The galloping, galloping of his steeds.

23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.’

24 “Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents.

25 He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.

26 She stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple.

27 At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead.

28 “The mother of Sisera looked through the window, And cried out through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’

29 Her wisest ladies answered her, Yes, she answered herself,

30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil: To every man a girl or two; For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments, Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed, Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’

31 “Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength.” So the land had rest for forty years.

Journal:

• Where is God asking you to be willing right now, even if it feels uncomfortable
• What is one small step you can take today to respond to His prompting
• Can you recall a time when God was faithful to you, and how can that strengthen you today
• Are there areas where you’ve been holding back, and what would it look like to step forward in faith 

Leaven

Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ~ Mark 8:15

What if the smallest influence in your life is shaping you more than you realize?

You may remember hearing as a child that who you spend time with is who you begin to imitate. Another saying that was once commonly used was, one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. It might take time, but it’s true. When you stay connected to unhealthy influences, they can slowly seep into your heart. Even when your intention is to help someone, it can backfire if you’re not guarding your own heart and paying attention to what’s trying to take root in it.

In this passage, Jesus warned His disciples to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees. This was the most religious group of their day, the very people you would expect to point others toward God. Yet something had taken these leaders off course. Over time, their teachings had become distorted. They were focused on rules and traditions, and they had lost sight of love, grace, and compassion.

Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that following Him wasn’t about becoming rigid or judgmental. It was about growing in mercy, love, and truth. He brought them with Him as He ministered to people, not only so they could learn, but also so they could walk in accountability and stay grounded. Even as the Son of God, He modeled the importance of staying connected and guarded in heart and mind.

Galatians 5:9 reminds us that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. In other words, small influences matter. What we allow into our thinking and our hearts will eventually shape our actions and our attitudes. Jesus was preparing His disciples for the time when they would need to stand strong together, encouraging one another and staying rooted in truth.

That same encouragement is for us today. We’re not called to live with a mindset that measures ourselves against others or tries to earn righteousness through works. We’re called to love people, extend grace, and walk in humility. At the same time, we’re called to be wise about what we allow to influence us.

Here are some practical ways to apply this truth in your life:

• Take an honest look at your closest influences, consider the conversations, attitudes, and environments you’re regularly part of
• Spend time in God’s Word daily, even if it’s just a few minutes, let His truth shape your thinking
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize anything that’s pulling your heart away from love, grace, and truth
• Choose one relationship that encourages your faith and invest more time there this week
• If there is a relationship that consistently drains you or pulls you down, begin to create healthy boundaries
• Find a small group, Bible study, or community where you can grow, be encouraged, and stay accountable
• Speak life and encouragement over others, this shifts your heart toward compassion instead of criticism

If you’re not sure where to begin, start simple. Open your Bible, invite God into your day, and ask Him to guard your heart. Then take one step to connect with someone who will encourage your walk with Him.

Today I want to encourage you to guard your heart with intention, to choose influences that strengthen your faith, and to allow God’s truth and love to grow in you so deeply that it overflows into every relationship and every place you go.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 8:11-21

11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 

12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 

15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 

18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 

19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20“Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

And they said, “Seven.”

21So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

Journal:

• What influences in your life are shaping your thoughts and attitudes the most right now
• Is there any area where you’ve noticed negative patterns slowly taking root
• Who can you invite into your life for encouragement and accountability
• What is one step you can take today to fill your heart more with God’s truth and love

Three days and nothing

“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. Mark 8:2

Have you ever gone three days without food? Most people today struggle to go even three hours without something to eat. Even missing one or two meals can leave your body feeling weak and unfocused. Hunger has a way of getting your attention quickly.

In this passage, Jesus noticed the crowd had been with Him for three days without food, and His heart was moved with compassion. He understood their need because He lived in a human body too, yet He never made provision for Himself first. His focus was always on others. What stands out is that even after witnessing Him feed five thousand with just a few loaves and fish, the disciples were still unsure of how provision would come again.

The people stayed anyway to hear Jesus. They didn’t leave to meet their natural needs first. They were drawn by something deeper. They were hungry for the Word. Some may have come for miracles, but many stayed because being near Jesus mattered more than their physical discomfort.

That kind of hunger challenges me. It makes me consider if I still press in like that today? Do I pursue His presence with that same intensity, even when it costs me something? There is a strength that comes from being with Him that goes beyond what food can provide. Yes, He fills me spiritually, but there are also times when saying no to the flesh creates space for Him to move in greater ways.

His power was present then to heal, restore, and provide, and it’s still present today. Nothing about His compassion has changed.

Here are some simple ways to step into this kind of hunger and connection with Him

• Set aside one meal this week to spend intentional time in prayer and the Word
• Start small, choose a specific time of day and guard it like an appointment
• Turn off distractions, put your phone away, and give Him your full attention
• Read a short passage and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally through it
• Pray honestly, share your needs, your struggles, and your gratitude
• Listen closely and allow quiet moments for Him to impress things on your heart
• Ask God to give you compassion for others and look for opportunities to encourage someone

If you are not sure where to start, begin with just ten minutes. Sit with Him, open your Bible, and invite Him into that time. Consistency matters more than length. As you make space for Him, you will begin to notice His strength rising in you.

Today I want to encourage you to press in even when it feels inconvenient, to choose His presence over comfort, and to trust that He will meet you there with strength, provision, and compassion. Just like the crowd who stayed with Him, you will find that what you receive from Him far outweighs anything you set aside.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 8:1-10

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 

2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 

3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”

4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven.”

6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 

7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 

8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 

9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 

10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Journal:

• What is one thing that often pulls your attention away from spending time with God
• How can you create space this week to prioritize time with Him
• When have you experienced God’s strength in a time when you felt empty or worn out
• Who in your life needs the compassion of Jesus right now, and how can you lead them toward Him

When courage calls your name

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. ~ Judges 4:14

Have you ever known deep down that God was asking you to step forward in a situation, but everything around you felt uncertain, intimidating, or just plain uncomfortable? That moment where your heart says go, but your thoughts say wait. That tension is where courage is born, and it’s exactly where we meet Deborah, Barak, and Jael in Judges 4.

This chapter isn’t just a historical account, it’s a reminder that God still moves through willing hearts, even when the situation feels overwhelming. He calls ordinary people into extraordinary moments, and He goes before them every single time.

Let’s take a look at three powerful truths from this account that can strengthen your faith and give you courage right where you are.

1. God goes before you, even when the outcome feels uncertain

Deborah didn’t just give Barak a command, she gave him a promise. The Lord had already gone ahead. The victory wasn’t something they had to create, it was something they had to step into.

In your daily life, this might look like saying yes to something that stretches you. Maybe it’s leading a group, having a hard conversation, or stepping into a new opportunity that feels bigger than you. You might not see how it’s all going to work out, but God does.

A practical example of this could be something like you feel prompted to invite someone to church or share your faith, but you hesitate because you don’t know how they’ll respond. Instead of pulling back, you take the step anyway, trusting that God is already working on their heart before you even speak. Make every interaction with others more about you and God rather than you and the other person.

2. Your obedience can unlock someone else’s breakthrough

Barak was called to go, but he hesitated and asked Deborah to come with him. Even though his faith wasn’t perfect, he still moved forward, and because he did, an entire nation experienced deliverance.  Your yes matters more than you think. It’s not just about you. Someone else could be waiting on the other side of your obedience.

A practical example of this could be like feeling led to serve or get involved, but you question if you have time, are qualified or if it will make a difference. You step in anyway, and through your willingness, someone feels seen, encouraged, or even encounters God in a new way.

3. God uses unexpected people in unexpected ways

Jael wasn’t a soldier even though she wasn’t part of the army. Yet she played a critical role in the victory. God positioned her at the right place, at the right time, and she had the courage to act.

Sometimes we disqualify ourselves because we don’t fit the picture we think God should use. But God isn’t looking for perfect, He’s looking for ready and willing.

A practical example could be that you feel like your story, your past, or your personality disqualifies you from being used by God. But then an opportunity comes to encourage someone who is walking through something you’ve already faced. You realize your experience is exactly what God wants to use.

This plays out in my own life almost every day. My natural instinct and desire is to shut out my past, the pain I’ve walked through because of others or even my own choices. It would feel easier to move on and not revisit those places. But time and time again, God brings someone into my life who needs that exact understanding and compassion. In those moments, I see Him open doors to reach hearts, to pray with someone, and even lead them to salvation.

Today I want to encourage you, whatever God is placing in front of you right now, He has already gone ahead of you. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to feel fully ready. Just take the next step in obedience. Your courage could be the very thing that unlocks freedom, breakthrough, and purpose, not only in your life, but in the lives of everyone around you.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Judges 4

1 When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. 

2 So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim. 

3 And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.

4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 

5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 

6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; 

7 and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”

8 And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!”

9 So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 

10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite, of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which is beside Kedesh.

12 And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 

13 So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 

15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 

16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

17 However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 

18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.” And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.

19 Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. 

20 And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”

21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 

22 And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.

23 So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel. 

24 And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Journal:

• What is one area where I feel God prompting me to step forward, but I’ve been holding back
• Who might be impacted if I choose to say yes to what God is asking me to do
• What truth from Judges 4 can I hold onto the next time I feel uncertain or afraid

Strength in the Struggle

Only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it. ~ Judges 3:2

Have you ever wondered why some battles don’t go away as quickly as you prayed they would? You believed, you trusted, you asked God to remove it, and yet it’s still there. It can feel confusing, even frustrating, especially when you’re trying to walk closely with Him.

Today’s scripture offers a perspective we don’t always consider. God allowed certain challenges to stay, not to harm His people, but so they would trust Him and because He wanted to walk with them through those battles into victory. The reason was because walking through the battle with His guidance strengthened their trust in Him for the next battle that would come. In the same way, there are moments in our lives when God doesn’t immediately remove the struggle, because He is developing something within us through it and walking with us in it.

Here are three truths from this chapter that can help you to see your current battles differently.

1. Battles are meant to make you stronger, not stop you

God allowed opposition so His people would learn how to fight and depend on Him. Not every struggle is meant to be avoided. Some are meant to strengthen you. Instead of asking only for the situation to be removed, ask God what He wants to build in you and lead you through it.

If you’re facing constant pressure at work, instead of seeing it only as stress, begin to ask God for wisdom, patience, and strength. You may find that He’s building confidence and resilience in you that you wouldn’t gain any other way.

2. God raises up help right on time

Throughout this chapter in Judges, when the people cried out, God raised up deliverers. He didn’t ignore their pain. He responded with provision. Don’t stop calling on God in the middle of your struggle. Your breakthrough may already be in motion.

Maybe you’ve been praying for direction in a difficult season. Keep seeking Him. That right conversation, that opportunity, or that moment of clarity is closer than you think.

3. Your obedience positions you for freedom

Each time the people turned back to God, they experienced deliverance. Their response mattered. In the same way, begin to choose obedience in the small things of life. It keeps your heart open and ready for what God wants to do. If God has been prompting you to forgive someone, take that step. It may not feel easy, but it releases you from carrying something that was never meant to weigh you down.

I’ve seen this play out many times in my own life. One particular example was when I was searching for a place to live near my children’s school. Because of the strain of separating from their father, I didn’t want to add the tension of a new school while everything was still settling. I kept praying that God would lead me to a home in their school district, but each time I prayed, He pointed to a places about a half hour away.

During that time, the Holy Spirit began to show me that the daily drive to and from school would become a time of strengthening and deepening my relationship with my kids. Even though it wasn’t always convenient and I didn’t always enjoy those early mornings, those car rides became precious moments. They turned into opportunities to pour into them, to share godly truths, and to learn Scripture together.

What I had been asking God to remove because it felt too hard to carry was actually something He was using for a greater purpose. At first, it didn’t make sense. It felt like wasted time, driving back and forth. But looking back now, I can see how He was showing me how to trust Him more deeply, to stand firm when things didn’t change right away, and to depend on Him in ways I hadn’t before. What felt like resistance was actually preparation and growth for what was coming next.

Today I want to encourage you that the battle you’re facing is not wasted. God is using it to strengthen you, to prepare you, and to draw you closer to Him. You are not alone in it, and you are not without help. He is with you, He is working, and He is faithful to bring you through.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 3

1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 

2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 

3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 

4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

5 Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 

6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods.

7 So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs. 

8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. 

9 When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 

10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim. 

11 So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. 

13 Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of the City of Palms. 

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 

16 Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh. 

17 So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) 

18 And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. 

19 But he himself turned back from the stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” He said, “Keep silence!” And all who attended him went out from him.

20 So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he arose from his seat. 

21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 

22 Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out. 

23 Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

24 When he had gone out, Eglon’s servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber.” 

25 So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.

26 But Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the stone images and escaped to Seirah. 

27 And it happened, when he arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he led them. 

28 Then he said to them, “Follow me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. 

29 And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped. 

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

Journal:

• What current challenge might God be using to strengthen me
• How can I invite God into my situation instead of trying to handle it on my own
• What is one step of obedience I can take today that will move me closer to freedom

When we forget, God is still with us

 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. ~ Judges 2:10

What happens when something powerful is forgotten? Not misplaced, not ignored for a moment, but truly forgotten. It fades from memory, loses its influence, and no longer shapes decisions. That’s where today’s scripture begins to press on the heart. A generation rose up that didn’t know the Lord, not because God had changed, but because what He had done was no longer being remembered, passed on or lived out.

It’s easy to think that could never happen to us, but if we’re honest, we can drift. We can get busy, distracted, weighed down by life, and slowly lose sight of what God has already done. Not intentionally, but subtly. Yet, even in that, God’s faithfulness never wavers.

Here are three truths from this chapter that can help us stay grounded and growing in our walk with God.

1. Don’t let what God has done become distant

The people didn’t just forget God, they forgot what He had done for them. When we lose sight of His faithfulness, it becomes easier to drift into self-reliance or discouragement. Be intentional about remembering. Write down prayers God has answered. Talk about His goodness with your family. Bring it up in everyday conversations.

When you’re facing a tough situation at work and you feel overwhelmed, pause and remind yourself of a time God came through before, that He gave you that position for a reason or a scripture promise that He spoke to your heart. Those memory will strengthen your faith and lift your spirit in the present moment.

2. What you pass on matters more than you think

A new generation didn’t know the Lord because something wasn’t carried forward. Faith is personal, but it’s also something we share and demonstrate. Live your faith out loud. Not perfectly, but consistently. Let people in your life see how you trust God, especially in hard moments.

If your children or those around you see you pray when things get difficult instead of panic, you’re showing them where your strength comes from. That leaves a lasting impact.

3. God’s grace meets us even when we drift

Judges 2 shows a cycle, people turn away, consequences follow, they cry out, and God raises up help. It’s a powerful reminder that even when we wander, God responds with mercy. Don’t stay stuck in guilt when you recognize you’ve drifted, instead turn back quickly. God isn’t waiting to reject you, He’s ready to restore you.

Maybe you’ve felt distant from God lately. Instead of avoiding Him, take a moment today to pray honestly. Even a simple, “God, I need You,” opens the door for His presence to meet you again.

I’ve shared before how I went my own way when I became an adult. I made decisions based on what I wanted in the moment or what felt easiest at the time. It took years for me to recognize that God had a plan, and that I could walk in a blessed path instead of falling into every trap set to trip me up. I was constantly falling into open pits, but even then, I didn’t forget Him completely. In my times of need, I cried out for His comfort and rescue, and He was faithful every single time.

Looking back, I can see that I wasn’t as aware of Him in my daily life. I wasn’t walking closely with Him, but every time I turned back, even in a simple moment of surrender, He met me with grace, not judgment. He reminded me that He never moved, I just needed to come close again.

Now I carry the memory of His faithfulness in every season, even in the ones where I was so far off course. When I think about it, I can plainly see that if He was that faithful then, how much more is He leading me now as I trust Him and seek Him in every decision and every detail of my life.

Today I want to encourage you, don’t let what God has done in your life become a distant memory. Stay connected, stay aware, and keep choosing Him daily. You’re not too far gone, you’re not behind, and you’re not disqualified. God is still working, still pursuing, and still inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 2

1 Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 

2 And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 

3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ” 

4 So it was, when the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5 Then they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the Lord. 

6 And when Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land.

7 So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 

8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. 

9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 

10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 

12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. 

13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 

14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 

15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 

17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. 

18 And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. 

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.

20 Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 

21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 

22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” 

23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

Journal:

• What are three things God has done in my life that I never want to forget
• Who in my life needs to see my faith lived out more consistently
• Is there an area where I’ve drifted that God is inviting me to return to today

Keep moving forward

_{And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.” ~ Judges 1:2}

Have you ever started something you knew God told you to do, only to find resistance right away? Not just a small inconvenience, but real opposition that made you question if you heard Him correctly. Today’s scripture reading opens with a people who just lost their leader, stepping into uncertainty, asking God what to do next and God answered them clearly. He said: Go up, I’ve already given it to you.

What’s interesting is that even with that promise, the journey wasn’t instant victory. There were wins, but there were also areas they didn’t fully take. That tension speaks to us right where we are as children of God in the world today. We’ve been given promises, direction, and purpose, yet we still face resistance, delays, and moments where we don’t finish what we started. But God’s faithfulness doesn’t change, and His call to move forward still stands.

Here are three truths for us in this chapter to walk out in real life:

1. Move when God speaks, even if you don’t see the full picture.

Judah didn’t have all the details, but they had a word from God, and that was enough to take the first step.

In your daily life, this might look like God nudging you to reach out to someone, start something new, or step into a role you feel unprepared for. Maybe you feel called to pray more consistently, or to speak truth in a situation where you’ve stayed quiet. You might not know how it will turn out, but obedience starts with movement. One step at a time builds momentum. When you choose to act on what God has already said, you position yourself to see Him move in ways you couldn’t have planned.

2. Don’t let partial progress become your stopping point.

The chapter shows several victories, but it also repeats something important, they did not drive out all the inhabitants. They settled in some areas instead of fully possessing what God gave them.

It’s easy to do the same today. You start strong, you make changes, you see growth, but then you get comfortable. Maybe you begin to set healthy boundaries, but you allow certain habits to remain. Maybe you step into your calling, but hold back in areas that feel challenging or uncomfortable. Growth requires consistency. Finishing what God started in you means not settling for halfway freedom when full freedom is available. Keep pressing forward, even when it stretches you.

3. Be aware that what you tolerate today can affect tomorrow.

The people allowed some of the inhabitants to remain, and over time, those compromises became problems.

In your life, this can look like ignoring small things that don’t seem like a big deal right now. It might be negative thoughts you entertain, distractions that pull you away from time with God, or relationships that quietly influence you in the wrong direction. At first, it feels manageable, but over time it grows. Being intentional now protects your future. When you notice something that doesn’t belong, address it early. God’s desire isn’t just for you to survive, but to walk in total freedom and strength.

I’ve mentioned this situation in other messages, but one real life example of this played out when we were buying our home. We were trying to secure a land easement with our neighbors so we could move forward with the purchase, and they weren’t willing to cooperate. We explored every option we could think of. We considered cutting a new access point through our property, taking them to court, or even walking away and finding another home. Every option was expensive, time consuming, and stressful, but because we knew this was where the Lord had led us, we were committed to see the transaction through to the end. The opposition was real, and it would’ve been easy to stop or settle for a different outcome.

One morning during that process, I felt a nudge in my spirit to bake a cake, take it to the neighbors, and talk with them about the situation. Honestly, I didn’t want to do it because I wasn’t exactly happy about the complications they were causing, but I chose to take that step of faith. I was willing to do what God was asking, to make an effort to bring peace into the situation. As I baked and prepared for the visit, something shifted in me. I began to feel excited because I realized I had the opportunity to bless them, regardless of the outcome. I didn’t even tell my husband what I was doing, so you can imagine his surprise when they called later that day and agreed to sign the paperwork. What could have cost us thousands of dollars and created years of tension with the people we were moving next to turned into peace, favor, and even a friendly relationship. God is so wise.

As we chose to keep moving forward, we saw God show up in ways that reminded us He had already gone before us. What felt difficult and full of resistance at first became a testimony of His faithfulness.

Today I want to encourage you, if God has spoken something to your heart, don’t stop halfway. He hasn’t changed His mind about what He’s called you to do. Even if it feels unfinished, even if there’s resistance, keep going. The same God who said go up is the same God who goes with you. You’re not doing this alone, and you’re not without direction. Stay committed, stay attentive, and trust that what He’s given you is still yours to walk in.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 1

1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”

2 And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”

3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him. 

4 Then Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek. 

5 And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him; and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 

6 Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 

7 And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

8 Now the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire. 

9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the South, and in the lowland. 

10 Then Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron. (Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath Arba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir was formerly Kirjath Sepher.)

12 Then Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” 

13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife. 

14 Now it happened, when she came to him, that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” 

15 So she said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

16 Now the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the City of Palms with the children of Judah into the Wilderness of Judah, which lies in the South near Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. 

17 And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. 

18 Also Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. 

19 So the Lord was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron. 

20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said. Then he expelled from there the three sons of Anak. 

21 But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

22 And the house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 

23 So the house of Joseph sent men to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city was formerly Luz.) 

24 And when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will show you mercy.” 

25 So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go. 

26 And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.

27 However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. 

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.

29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

30 Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.

31 Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. 

32 So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

33 Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.

34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley; 

35 and the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph became greater, they were put under tribute.

36 Now the boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.

  
Journal:

• What has God asked me to step into that I may have slowed down in
• Where have I settled for partial progress instead of continuing forward
• Is there anything in my life I’ve been tolerating that I need to address now
• What is one step I can take today to keep moving forward