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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 20:26-28.

Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand." — Judges 20:26-28

Something changes here. After two crushing defeats, Israel finally hits bottom. This time they don't just cry—they fast. They don't just speak—they sacrifice. They don't just ask God for permission—they seek presence.

This is the turning point of the entire chapter. Their breakdown becomes the moment of breakthrough. They finally humble themselves—not to win a war, but to be right with God. This is where we see the truth that brokenness leads to breakthrough in action—the moment hearts yield, heaven moves.

Sometimes we want God to fix our circumstances without fixing our hearts. We want him to change our marriage, our finances, our friendships—but not our pride. We want peace without repentance and victory without surrender.

But God's breakthrough always begins with breakdown. He doesn't bless arrogance; He honors humility. When we fast, pray, and repent, we realign our hearts to his will, not ours.

Think of it like this: in a struggling marriage, both spouses may pray for change, but until one person decides to lay down pride—to listen, confess, and forgive—nothing changes. The same is true in our faith. God doesn't move through prideful hearts, but through broken ones.

If you're longing for breakthrough today, stop fighting for control and start surrendering your heart. God isn't holding back your victory—He's waiting for your surrender. Breakdown leads to breakthrough every time.

ASK THIS:

1. What area of my life needs both repentance and renewal?
2. Am I fasting or praying for results, or to be closer to God?
3. Where have I been asking for breakthrough but resisting surrender?
4. What would humility look like in my relationships today?

DO THIS:

• Choose one day this week to fast and pray for humility before God.
• Write out a prayer of confession, asking God to reveal areas of pride or resistance.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, thank You for using my breakdowns to draw me closer to You. I surrender my pride, my plans, and my pace. Help me find breakthrough not by pushing harder but by bowing lower. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 20:22-25.

But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."

So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword. — Judges 20:22-25

Israel tries again. They pray and weep. This time it looks more spiritual. But still, there's no real repentance. They ask, "Should we go again?"—not, "Lord, what have we done wrong?"

They confuse emotion with surrender. Their tears are real, but their pride is intact. God isn't after their sadness—He's after their submission. The phrase "sorrow isn't surrender" sums up Israel's problem and often ours too—emotion without repentance never changes the outcome.

And so they lose again. Another 18,000 die. Why? Because feeling bad isn't the same as turning back. God allows defeat until their hearts are truly humbled.

This is how pride disguises itself in our lives. We tell God we're sorry for the consequences but hold on to control. We cry over the damage but won't lay down our will. We promise change but never surrender our way.

It's like a marriage that keeps circling the same fights. One spouse says, "I'm sorry you feel that way," but never owns the hurt they caused. The words sound humble, but pride is still running the show. Until someone truly surrenders, healing never starts.

Israel's story is our story. We mourn the results of sin—broken homes, fractured churches, divided nations—but we're not broken before God. And until we are, He will let us feel the weight of our own choices.

The truth is, sorrow isn't always true surrender. Don't wait for another round of collateral damage to learn surrender. Lay down your pride now. Stop fighting your way and start trusting his. God will not give victory to the proud—but he will lift up the humble.

ASK THIS:

1. Am I more grieved by the consequences of sin or the cause of it?
2. Where have I mistaken regret for repentance?
3. How has pride kept me from true surrender in my relationships?
4. What battle am I still fighting that God is waiting for me to release?

DO THIS:

• Admit where pride still controls your responses—especially in your closest relationships.
• Write down one area you've been "sorry about" but haven't surrendered—and pray over it daily this week.

PRAY THIS:

Father, I'm tired of circling the same battles. Break the pride that blinds me and teach me to truly surrender. Help me move from tears of regret to the obedience of repentance. I don't want to just feel sorry—I want to be changed. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"I Surrender."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 20:18-21.

The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first."

Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. — Judges 20:18-21

Israel goes to Bethel. Finally—they pray! But look closely. They don't ask if they should go to war, only who should go first. Their minds are made up. They're not seeking God's direction; they only want God's endorsement.

It's a subtle but dangerous difference. They don't want divine wisdom—they want divine approval. They're still fighting the wrong battle in the wrong way.

And God allows them to go. He tells them, "Judah shall go up first." It sounds like victory—but it isn't. Israel loses 22,000 men that day. Their zeal was high, their numbers were strong, and their cause was just—but their hearts were wrong. They inquired of God, but they never repented to Him.

Believers are guilty of doing this all the time. We ask God to bless our careers, our goals, our posts, our politics—without ever asking if they align with God's will. We quote Scripture but don't surrender to it. We wear God's name but pursue our own plans.

Israel's defeat wasn't because God failed—it's because His people fought without surrender. And that's a battle you'll always lose.

Maybe your defeats aren't setbacks; maybe they're invitations. God lets us lose when he wants to lead us back to him. He loves us way too much to let us keep winning our way.

Before you go to battle, ask: Am I fighting God's enemy—or just my own?

ASK THIS:

1. Have I mistaken God's permission for His blessing?
2. When was the last time I surrendered my agenda before seeking God's help?
3. Where am I fighting a battle that God never called me to fight?
4. What would it look like to let humility lead instead of pride?

DO THIS:

• Before you act, pray: "Lord, am I fighting Your battle or mine?"
• Identify one area where you've asked for God's approval but not His direction. Surrender it today.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, forgive me for fighting battles You never called me to fight. Teach me to seek Your direction before demanding Your blessing. Lead me to surrender so that every victory brings You glory—not me. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Lead Me to the Cross."