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

Today's shout-out goes to Ronald Stephans. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you.

Our text today is Judges 14:15-18

"On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, 'Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?' And Samson's wife wept over him and said, 'You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.' And he said to her, 'Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?' She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,
'What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?'
And he said to them,
'If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.'"— Judges 14:15-18

Samson's wife was terrified. Her own people threatened her life, so she turned the pressure onto Samson. For seven days, she cried, nagged, and manipulated until Samson finally caved. He betrayed his own secret because he couldn't stand the weight of her demands.

That's the trap of people-pleasing. We think giving in will relieve the pressure. But it only leads to more loss. Samson lost the bet, his dignity, and the trust he had placed in his wife—all because he couldn't stand firm under pressure.

Here's the truth: if you live for people's approval, you'll die by their rejection.

Family expectations, cultural pressure, the need to please everyone at the holiday table—these are heavy loads. However, when you give in just to maintain peace, you often lose yourself, and sometimes you lose God's blessing in the process.

The call of Scripture is clear: seek to please God first. Paul put it this way in Galatians 1:10: "If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

That doesn't mean we stop loving people. But it does mean we draw boundaries and learn to stand firm in truth, even when the pressure is unbearable.

ASK THIS:

1. Where in your life do you feel the heaviest family pressure?
2. How are you tempted to compromise truth just to keep others happy?
3. Do you believe pleasing God first will actually free you from the weight of people-pleasing?

DO THIS:

• Name the main source of pressure in your life right now.
• Pray over it, asking God for courage to honor Him above all.
• Set one healthy boundary this week with a person or situation that drains you.

PRAY THIS:

Father, I confess I often give in to people instead of standing firm in You. Give me courage to please You first, even when the pressure is heavy. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"The Stand."

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

And today's a special one—it's Thanksgiving Day.

Today's shout-out goes to Marcus Sanfilippo from Flagler Beach, FL. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you.

Our text today is Judges 14:10-14

"His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do. As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. And Samson said to them, 'Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.' And they said to him, 'Put your riddle, that we may hear it.' And he said to them,
'Out of the eater came something to eat.
Out of the strong came something sweet.'
And in three days they could not solve the riddle." — Judges 14:10-14

Samson had just been given a miracle—God's Spirit gave him victory over a lion. Days later, instead of remembering that moment with gratitude, he turned it into a riddle at a party. He literally gambled with God's blessing, making it about his wit and his pride.

That's the danger for us, too. Instead of letting God's gifts draw us to worship, we make them about us. We downplay His provision, take credit for His work, or use His blessings for our own advantage.

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day where we stop, notice God's gifts, and give Him glory. But how often do we blow past His blessings—treating them casually, like Samson did?

Gratitude guards God's glory, but pride gambles it away.

When you see the hand of God in your life—answered prayers, provision, protection—don't turn it into a joke, a boast, or a throwaway moment. Slow down. Say thank you. Point the glory back to Him.

Thanksgiving isn't just one day on the calendar. It's a lifestyle that protects us from Samson's mistake—taking a gift and making it a game.

ASK THIS:

1. What blessings in your life have you treated casually instead of giving thanks?
2. How can gratitude change the way you see God's provision?
3. Where has pride robbed God of the glory He deserves in your story?
4. What are three specific things you can thank God for today?

DO THIS:

• Write down a list of 10 things you're thankful for right now.
• Share at least one of them with your family or friends at the table today.
• Take one blessing you've been tempted to take credit for, and thank God out loud for it.
• End your Thanksgiving by praying a prayer of gratitude, not just for food, but for His faithfulness.

PRAY THIS:

Father, thank You for every gift You've given me. Forgive me for the times I've taken Your blessings lightly. Today I give You glory, not just for the food on my table, but for every victory and every provision in my life. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Give Thanks."

In this week's Faith + State conversation, Vince Miller and Minnesota House Rep. Elliott Engen walk through Judges 14, the beginning of Samson's story — a man who lives by one destructive creed: "It is right in my eyes." From forbidden relationships to rage-fueled decisions, Samson becomes a mirror for the crisis in our culture today.

Elliott shares a shocking real-life story from Hamline University — including a crowd cheering the murder of a political figure — revealing how far we've drifted from basic morality. Vince connects the dots from Samson's implosion to the cultural chaos we're witnessing now, reminding us why truth, restraint, and God's authority matter more than ever.

If you've ever struggled with anger, impulse, moral drift, or the pressure to conform, this episode gives you clarity and hope.
And if today is your day to choose Jesus — drop: "I choose Jesus" in the comments.