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 21:4-7.

And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?" — Judges 21:4-7

Israel's problem deepens. They made a vow in anger, and now they're bound by it. They're trying to clean up their mess while making it worse. Their words sounded spiritual—"We've sworn by the Lord"—but they were driven by emotion, not discernment. This is what happens when Passion Proceeds Prayer.

Their zeal outpaced their wisdom. They acted out of impulse instead of insight, and the result was pain. Passion Proceeds Prayer when we react instead of reflect, when we speak instead of seek, and when we move before we meditate on God's Word. They vowed something God never asked of them, and now they're trapped by their own words.

How often do we do the same? We make promises in the heat of emotion—swearing we'll never speak to someone again, or vowing to fix something in our own strength—without first consulting God. We act out of guilt, fear, or pride and call it conviction.

Here's the danger: a vow made in haste can become a chain that binds us for years. God calls us to wisdom, not impulse. Proverbs 19:2 reminds us, "Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way."

We rush into commitments—relationships, ministries, purchases, or words—because it feels right in the moment. But faith isn't about feeling; it's about following. God's Spirit leads through patience and prayer, not panic and pride.

If you've made promises without wisdom, you don't have to stay trapped by them. Bring them to God. He's not waiting to condemn you—He's ready to redeem your mistakes. The cross of Christ covers not only our sins, but also our rash decisions.

Today, slow down. Seek His will. Let your next vow be this: "Lord, I will wait for Your wisdom before I move."

ASK THIS:

1. When was the last time I made a decision without praying first?
2. What promises or commitments might God be asking me to revisit?
3. Do I trust God's timing enough to wait for His direction?
4. How can I grow in patience before I act or speak?

DO THIS:

• Take five minutes before every major decision this week to pause and pray for wisdom.
• Write out one hasty vow or promise you've made and surrender it to God.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, forgive me for the promises I made without Your wisdom. Teach me to pause, pray, and wait for Your leading. Give me patience that listens and faith that follows Your timing, not my emotion. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Wait On You."

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 21:1-3.

Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?" — Judges 21:1-3

Israel weeps. They mourn the destruction they caused, but their tears are not repentance—they're regret. They're not asking, "What did we do wrong?" but "How did this happen?" The difference may seem small, but it's everything.

Regret is sorrow over consequences. Repentance is sorrow over sin. Israel doesn't confess their rebellion or seek God's direction. They simply grieve what they've lost, not what they've done.

We do the same thing. We cry over the fallout but ignore the cause. We mourn broken marriages, fractured friendships, or spiritual dryness—but we rarely look inward at the pride, anger, or idolatry that caused it.

Here are a few reasons why we avoid dealing with the heart of our sin:

1. Pride. We don't want to admit we were wrong.
2. Shame. We believe our sin defines us.
3. Fear. We're scared of what repentance might cost.
4. Control. We still want to manage the situation instead of surrendering it.
5. Comfort. We prefer the illusion of peace over the pain of change.

But regret doesn't bring freedom—repentance does. Regret keeps you chained to the past, while repentance opens the door to grace. The only way out is through confession, humility, and faith in Jesus.

So say it with me: I'm done with regret. I'm done living in sorrow that never changes me. I'm done replaying my mistakes while ignoring the Savior who redeems them. Jesus didn't just die for your sin—He died for your shame, your guilt, and every ounce of regret you still carry.

If you're tired of replaying the pain and ready to be renewed, it's time to stop asking "why" and start asking "what now, Lord?"

In the comments below, share your step toward repentance—your decision to confess, turn from sin, and trust in the grace of Jesus. He's not done with you yet. And if today you're ready to move beyond regret, I want to invite you to take a simple step of faith—type "I'm done with regret" in the comments below as a public declaration. Let that phrase be your line in the sand, your confession that you're turning from sin and coming home to the grace of Jesus, who died for both your sin and your shame.

ASK THIS:

1. Am I more upset about the consequences of sin or the sin itself?
2. What has regret kept me from fully surrendering to God?
3. Which of the five reasons above do I relate to most?
4. What would real repentance look like for me today?

DO THIS:

• Write down one area where regret has replaced repentance—and confess it to God.
• Say it out loud: I'm done with regret. Then walk in that truth today.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, I've spent too long living in regret instead of repentance. Search my heart, expose my sin, and lead me to the freedom that only comes through Jesus. Today I declare, I'm done with regret. Thank You for dying for both my sin and my shame. I surrender it all to You. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Because He Lives."

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 20:45-48.

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down. So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor. But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire. — Judges 20:45-48

The last verses of Judges 20 are heartbreaking. Israel wins the battle—but loses its brother. Towns are burned. Families destroyed. A tribe nearly erased. What began as justice ends in devastation.

When believers battle believers, no one wins. The body of Christ turns on itself, and the mission suffers. What remains are ashes, regret, and a broken witness to a watching world.

This is the cost of church hurt and hypocrisy. When pride replaces grace and division replaces love, we scorch the very ground we were called to cultivate. The fire spreads—from one wound to another—until the family of faith looks no different from the world.

But this isn't where God's story ends. Jesus came to heal what sin burned down. Through his cross, he made peace between us and God—and between each other. Where the sword once divided, his blood now unites. The gospel restores what pride destroys.

If you've been hurt by the church or by another believer, Jesus invites you to come home. He knows your pain. He was betrayed, abandoned, and denied by those closest to him—and still he forgave.

Healing starts when we stop swinging and start surrendering. Lay down your sword. Stop fighting other believers and start following Jesus. He is the only one who can turn ashes into beauty, division into unity, and hurt into healing.

ASK THIS:

1. Have I been part of a conflict that hurt another believer?
2. How has church hurt or hypocrisy affected my faith or witness?
3. What relationships need reconciliation in my life today?
4. Have I brought my wounds to Jesus for healing—or just carried them?

DO THIS:

• Reach out to someone you've been divided from and start the conversation toward peace.
• Pray for those who've hurt you instead of rehearsing the pain.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, heal the wounds we've caused and the ones we carry. Forgive us for fighting our brothers and sisters when we should have fought for unity. Restore Your Church, beginning with me. Make me an instrument of peace and healing today. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"O Come To The Altar."