Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Bill McKenna from Allentown, PA. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you.

Our text today is Judges 14:5-6

Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. — Judges 14:5-6

Picture the scene: Samson's on his way to Timnah, strolling through a vineyard, when suddenly a lion leaps out with a roar. A man barehanded against a lion? Not a fair fight. But here's the game-changer: "The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him."

Samson's strength wasn't in his biceps. It wasn't in his willpower. It was the Spirit of God filling him, empowering him to do what no man could do alone.

Here's what you need to know today: you are weaker than you think, but God's Spirit is stronger than you imagine.

We face lions of our own—temptation, fear, depression, conflict at work, struggles in marriage. And most of us try to muscle through with grit, discipline, or positivity. But raw willpower always runs out. God never meant for you to fight alone.

What made Samson different wasn't his muscles—it was God's might. And that same Spirit now lives in every believer. It lives in you. You might feel weak. But weakness is the very place where God shows his might. Trust his power not your willpower.

ASK THIS:

1. Where are you trying to face life's lions in your own strength?
2. When was the last time you leaned on God's Spirit instead of willpower?
3. What might change if you truly believed the Spirit lives in you?
4. How do you need to invite the Spirit into your battles today?

DO THIS:

• Identify one "lion" you're facing this week.
• Stop and pray specifically: "Holy Spirit, fill me for this battle."
• Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 and commit it to memory.
• Each morning this week, start your day by declaring, "I fight with the Spirit, not my strength."

PRAY THIS:

Holy Spirit, I admit I'm weak on my own. Fill me with Your power today. Help me face the lions in my life with the strength that only comes from You. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Same Power."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Paul Davis from Stewartstown, PA. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you.

Our text today is Judges 14:4

His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. — Judges 14:4

Samson just made a terrible choice—demanding a Philistine wife. To his parents, it looked like rebellion, a total collapse of God's plan. And honestly, they weren't wrong. But then the writer adds this line: "It was from the Lord."

Now, that doesn't mean God approved of Samson's sin. But it does mean Samson's failure didn't derail God's purpose. God was still moving the story forward.

And this is where so many of us stumble. We think, "I blew it. That affair. That addiction. That habit I can't kick. That thing I said I'd never do again—I did it. God's done with me." Men and women both carry this lie: that past sin or current struggle is the period at the end of their story.

But God writes commas where we write periods. He takes the mess and makes it part of His mission.

Your sin may disqualify you, but God's grace requalifies you. God never excuses sin. Sin always wounds. But sin doesn't get the final word—God does.

Think about it: if God can weave Samson's lust into His larger purpose, if He can turn Peter's denial into boldness, if He can transform Paul the persecutor into Paul the preacher—don't you think He can redeem your story too?

So stop living like you've been benched. Your are not benched. God wants you in the game. Confess. Repent. Then trust that God's hand is bigger than your failure.

ASK THIS:

1. Where do you feel like sin has put a period at the end of your story?
2. Do you believe God can weave even your failures into His plan?
3. How does Samson's story challenge your view of God's sovereignty?
4. What step of faith could you take today to live as if grace is bigger than sin?

DO THIS:

• Write down one sin you think has disqualified you.
• Read 1 John 1:9 and thank God that forgiveness is real.
• Replace the lie, "God is done with me," with the truth, "God is still working in me."
• Share this truth with one person who feels stuck in shame.

PRAY THIS:

Father, I often believe the lie that my sin is the end of my story. Remind me today that grace has the final word and that You are still working through me. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Grace Greater Than Our Sin."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Brad Cook from Florien, LA. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you.

Our text today is Judges 14:1-3

"Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. Then he came up and told his father and mother, 'I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.' But his father and mother said to him, 'Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?' But Samson said to his father, 'Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.'" — Judges 14:1-3

Samson is supposed to be Israel's deliverer. God had set him apart from birth. Yet his story begins with three little words: "I saw her." That's desire talking. Not prayer. Not obedience. Just raw appetite. His parents tried to speak wisdom, reminding him of God's call and boundaries. But Samson steamrolls their counsel: "She is right in my eyes."

Sound familiar?

Our culture preaches this same sermon every day: "If it feels right, do it. If it looks good, grab it." But following every impulse never leads to freedom—it leads to chains. Samson thought he was chasing love, but really, he was surrendering his future to lust.

What you chase will control you. If you chase money, it'll run your life. If you chase approval, you'll be enslaved to other people's opinions. If you chase lust, it'll eat away at your soul.

Every man and woman wrestles here. Maybe it's the late-night scroll, the car you can't afford, or the relationship you know isn't wise. The pull feels so strong. But here's the warning—unchecked desire will drive you further than you ever planned to go and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay.

Instead, surrender your desires to the One who made you. Don't ask, "What feels right to me?" Ask, "What is right in God's eyes?"

ASK THIS:

1. What desires tend to hijack your decision-making?
2. Whose counsel do you usually ignore when you're set on something?
3. Where are you tempted to say, "It's right in my eyes," even when God says otherwise?
4. What's one area where you need to stop chasing and start surrendering?

DO THIS:

• Take a pause before making your next big decision.
• Ask: "Am I chasing this because it feels right in my eyes or because it's right in God's eyes?"
• Call one trusted friend and share one area where you feel your desires tugging.
• Ask them to pray for you this week.

PRAY THIS:

Father, you know the desires that pull at me. Teach me to want what You want, not what feels right to me. Keep me from trading Your will for my cravings. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Give Me Jesus + Closer."