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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:17-18.

Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead. And the people of Israel came together, and they encamped at Mizpah. And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, "Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." — Judges 10:17-18

The Ammonites gathered in Gilead—a vulnerable region east of the Jordan, a natural invasion path into Israel. Israel responded by gathering at Mizpah, a high place often used for covenant renewal and prayer. Both locations carried significance: one was the physical threat, the other was the spiritual rally point.

But the geography only highlights the spiritual moment. Israel had no clear leader, no battle plan. What they had was repentance. They finally put away idols and cried out to God. That was the right preparation. Before God raised up a deliverer, he reshaped their hearts.

This is the order God still works in today. Repentance first, deliverance second. The people didn't repent because they already had a strategy—they repented because they had no strategy. Their idols were powerless, their enemies were pressing in, and they finally turned back to God. And God's compassion was stirred by the misery of his repentant people in this moment. His justice was engaged by the oppression, and now he was ready to move.

Think about that for your life. We want God to fix our circumstances, but God starts by fixing our hearts. Repentance clears the ground for his deliverance. It tears down idols, humbles our pride, and puts us in a posture to receive what only he can provide.

Maybe "Ammonites" are pressing in right now—anxiety, addiction, pressure, or relational conflict. You might even feel camped at "Mizpah:" gathered, waiting, desperate for God to act. Don't miss the lesson. Surrender at Mizpah. Repentance bridges the gap between misery and mercy, between oppression and deliverance. Trust in God. Repent and surrender. Find relief and salvation.

ASK THIS:

1. What "Ammonites" are pressing against my life right now?
2. Am I focused more on strategy or surrender?
3. Have I truly cleared away the idols so God can act?
4. Do I trust that repentance is the preparation God honors before deliverance?

DO THIS:

Don't just analyze your battle plan today. Start with repentance. Name your idols, confess your misplaced trust, and surrender at your own "Mizpah"—a place of waiting where God's compassion and deliverance can meet you.

PRAY THIS:

Father, help me see that repentance is the first battle move. Align my heart with Your justice, stir Your compassion over my misery, and prepare me for the deliverance only You can bring. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Song of Repentance."

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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:15-16.

And the people of Israel said to the Lord, "We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day." So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. — Judges 10:15-16

Here we are again—but something finally shifts. After God tells Israel to cry out to their false gods, they realize lip service won't cut it. This time, they don't just say the right words; they take the right action. They toss the idols and turn back to God.

And then comes one of the most moving lines in Judges: "He became impatient over the misery of Israel." God, who had every right to walk away, couldn't stand watching his people suffer once he saw their genuine repentance.

Real repentance is about getting serious with God. Israel had said "sorry" countless times before, but this time, they proved it. They didn't just confess—they cleaned house. And God responded with compassion that overflowed from his heart.

But let's be clear: repentance is not a magic formula to get what we want from God. Israel didn't suddenly earn his favor. Instead, repentance aligned them with his justice. When they cast off idols, God saw both their hearts and the injustice of their suffering, and his mercy was stirred. That's what it means when Scripture says God became "impatient over their misery." God is not cold or distant. He doesn't shrug at our pain. When his people genuinely turn from sin, his compassion is moved both by their response to his justice and by the oppression weighing them down.

That's the same call for us today. We can cry tears, pray prayers, and make promises—but if the idols stay, repentance isn't real. For Israel, it meant dragging false gods out of their homes and tossing them away. For us, it may mean finally deleting the app that keeps pulling us back into sin. Or ending the relationship that's poisoning our soul. Or reshaping how we spend our time, money, and energy so God isn't pushed out of first place.

Repentance isn't about words, it's not a mere confession—it's a turn, it's about action. It leaves an imprint on your behavior. It changes what you do tomorrow. And when we finally get serious about our sin, we discover God's heart: He is both just and compassionate, eager to bring relief when his people turn back to him.

Turn back today. Let your repentance be made known.

ASK THIS:

1. Am I truly serious about my sin, or just serious about avoiding its consequences?
2. What "idol" do I keep confessing but never removing?
3. Do I believe God is stirred with compassion over both my repentance and my misery?
4. How might I align my life more with His justice this week?

DO THIS:

Don't just confess your sin today—cut it off. Take one tangible step that proves you're serious.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, I don't want to play games with my sin. Help me to align with Your justice, to lay down my idols, and to trust Your heart of compassion that cannot ignore my misery. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Run to the Father."

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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:10-14.

And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, "We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals." And the Lord said to the people of Israel, "Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress." — Judges 10:10-14

Israel finally cried out to God after years of misery. But this time God pushed back. He basically said, "I've rescued you before, and you ran right back to idols. Why should this time be any different?"

That's the moment when regret had to become repentance. It wasn't enough to admit failure. Israel had to do more than cry out—they had to truly turn from idols.

This is the difference between worldly regret and godly repentance. Regret says, "I don't like the consequences." Repentance says, "I hate the reason that got me here — my disobedience."

We've all been there. We regret getting caught in a lie—but do we hate lying? We regret the hangover—but do we hate drunkenness? We regret the fallout of anger—but do we hate the pride that sparked it?

God isn't after our half-hearted apologies. He wants surrendered hearts. He'll even let us sit in our misery until we get serious enough to put away our idols.

Maybe you are caught in the spin cycle right now—sin, sorrow, repeat. Maybe you've even prayed prayers that felt empty. The way out is always the same: not just regret, but repentance. Not just "sorry," but surrender. That means getting brutally honest with God—not just naming what you did, but admitting why you wanted it. Then, ask him to change your desires, to help you hate the sin itself, and to love him more. That's where real freedom begins.

ASK THIS:

1. Do I confuse regret with repentance in my life?
2. What idols have I said "sorry" for but never actually removed?
3. How might God be using misery to push me toward surrender?
4. Am I willing to put away the counterfeit gods and trust Him fully?

DO THIS:

Don't just confess—clean house. Remove one "idol" today that competes with God's place in your heart. Then get honest with God about why you chased it, and ask Him to reshape your desires.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, I don't just want to regret my sin—I want to repent of it. Expose the motives behind it, and give me a heart that hates sin and loves You more. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"We Repent."

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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:7-9.

So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. — Judges 10:7-9

Here we are again. Israel fell into the same old pattern—idols first, slavery next. What started as excitement ended as eighteen years of oppression. The nations whose gods they worshiped became the nations that crushed them.

That's the lie of sin. It always starts with a sparkle, a promise, a rush. It whispers, "This will make you happy. This will satisfy. This time it will be different." And for a quick second, it delivers. But the high never lasts.

We've all felt it.

• The buzz of that secret indulgence.
• The ego boost of praise or success.
• The thrill of crossing a boundary we swore we wouldn't.

But then? The high fades. Guilt. Emptiness. Shame. Regret. Consequences. What was supposed to relieve us now rules us. What promised life delivers death.

Israel spent eighteen years crushed because they kept chasing the rush of idols. And we, too, end up enslaved—not to Ammonites, but to habits, addictions, bitterness, anxiety, or broken relationships. Sin always takes us farther than we wanted to go and costs us more than we ever planned to pay.

Sin shines like treasure, but it's just counterfeit change. What our souls really crave isn't a cheap thrill—it's the fulfillment of God. His presence satisfies. His call gives purpose. His Spirit provides freedom. Every other "high" is just a cheap knockoff that leaves us emptier than before.

Don't fall for it.

ASK THIS:

1. Where am I chasing a thrill I know won't satisfy?
2. How has sin overpromised and underdelivered in my past?
3. What "idol" is currently leaving me emptier instead of fuller?
4. What step do I need to take today to run back to God instead of another counterfeit?

DO THIS:

Name one area where sin feels thrilling but is leaving you empty. Bring it before God in confession today, and tell one trusted friend to help keep you accountable.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, open my eyes to see through sin's empty promises. Protect me from chasing counterfeits, and teach me to find my deepest joy and freedom in You alone. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"No Longer Slaves."

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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:6.

The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. — Judges 10:6

For forty-five years under two Judges, Tola and Jair, Israel lived in peace. No drama. Just stability and faithfulness. But then came the slow creep of boredom. Instead of treasuring this quiet time, they ran after the thrills of idols—seven different gods from seven different nations. A sudden departure from God.

It was certainly a restless search for “something more.” More passion, more excitement, more control. But as we have learned repeatedly in Judges, empty idols never deliver. They always take more than they give.

But we aren't that much different. When life feels stable, our hearts get restless. We scroll for the next dopamine hit, chase the next upgrade, crave the next thrill. Faithfulness begins to feel boring. And so, like Israel, we start reaching for idols—money, comfort, pleasure, approval, or success—hoping they’ll spark what feels missing.

But once we taste, the thrill fades fast. The upgrade is quickly outdated. The pleasure leaves us emptier than before. It’s like running on a treadmill; we burn lots of energy but go nowhere.

The problem isn’t adventure or seeking adventure. The problem is where we seek it. The best adventure isn’t found in chasing the next high—it’s found in pursuing the living God. Running after God is the ultimate adventure. Following his call is the ultimate thrill. So don't pursue fake thrills, quick fixes, and short-lived highs. Trade in the hit for the Most High God.

ASK THIS:

1. Where do I chase quick thrills instead of God’s steady presence?
2. What’s the “idol” I turn to when life feels boring?
3. How has thrill-seeking left me emptier instead of fuller?
4. What would it look like to see following God as the ultimate adventure?

DO THIS:

Today, replace one “dopamine scroll” (phone, purchase, escape) with a moment of pursuit—pray, read Scripture, or worship. Trade the hit for the real adventure.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, forgive me for chasing thrills apart from You. Teach me to see You as the true adventure of my life, the only pursuit that satisfies. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"My King Forever."

We live in an age where truth is no longer discovered—it’s declared.

Everyone’s got “their truth,” but what happens when my truth and your truth collide?

Summary:

In this foundational episode of Faith + State, Vince Miller and Elliott Engen explore how our culture has replaced absolute truth with subjective truth, and why that shift is at the root of today’s moral and political chaos.

From the public square to personal identity, they unpack how abandoning biblical authority has left us in confusion—and how returning to the Word of God restores clarity, conviction, and courage.

Big Idea:

The world says truth is subjective. The Bible says the truth is revealed. One leads to chaos. The other to clarity.

John 17:17 — “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Reflection & Discussion Questions:

1. How does the modern idea of “your truth” conflict with the Bible’s view of absolute truth?
2. Where do you see “subjective truth” showing up most in today’s culture?
3. Why do you think people prefer relative truth over revealed truth?
4. How does John 17:17 define truth in a way that challenges cultural norms?
5. What dangers arise when a society loses belief in objective truth?
6. How can Christians speak truth boldly without becoming combative?
7. What role should Scripture play in shaping your understanding of truth?
8. How can we model truth to the next generation in a post-truth culture?
9. Why is truth foundational to justice, morality, and identity?
10. What step can you take this week to align your beliefs with God’s revealed truth?

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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:3-5.

After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. — Judges 10:3-5

Jair's life doesn't read like an action movie. No armies were defeated. No fiery speeches. Just thirty sons riding thirty donkeys, each governing their town. Honestly? It feels… uneventful and ordinary.

But that's the beauty. After Abimelech's bloody chaos, Jair brought something Israel desperately needed—ordinary life. Families could grow. Communities could thrive. Stability took root. That was his legacy.

Sometimes the absence of headlines, "ordinary," is the greatest headline of all.

We are so addicted to the spectacular. We want to live like our lives are highlight reels. Big promotions. Viral moments. Spiritual mountaintops. But God does some of his best work in the grind of the ordinary.

Steady dads who show up after long days of work. Moms who faithfully pray with their kids at bedtime. Men and women who stay the course in marriage, integrity, and worship—when nobody is watching or praising them. That's Jair's story. Faithfulness that never trends, but always lasts.

Drama is exciting, but it rarely builds anything lasting. Stability feels boring, but it gives time and space for generations to build and flourish. Maybe God's calling you not to chase that next "big moment," but to keep showing up faithfully in the small ones. Grinding it out in faithful obedience.

So keep grinding, with your family, church, and in your time. Do something "ordinary" today.

ASK THIS:

1. Do I crave dramatic moments more than daily faithfulness?
2. Where has God called me to show up steadily, even when it feels unnoticed?
3. How can I reframe "ordinary" as holy ground?
4. Who in my life models Jair-like stability, and how can I thank them?

DO THIS:

Choose one "ordinary" act of faithfulness today—pray with your kids, send an encouraging text, or serve without credit. Do it as worship, not for applause.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, thank You for the gift of ordinary days. Teach me to embrace faithfulness over flash, stability over spectacle, and obedience that honors You even when no one notices. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Faithful."

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

Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23.

Our text today is Judges 10:1-2.

After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir. — Judges 10:1-2

After the chaos and carnage of Abimelech's reign, Israel didn't need another flashy warrior. They needed rest. God raised up Tola—a judge whose legacy isn't marked by a bunch of battles, but by stability. For twenty-three years, nothing dramatic is recorded. No rebellion. No mass bloodshed. Just peace and steady leadership.

Sometimes, no drama is a blessing, right?! God used this season to remind his people—and us—that his work isn't only seen in the dramatic. Sometimes it is seen in a quiet season led by a faithful leader.

This is problematic for us because we live in a world addicted to drama. Our feeds refresh every few seconds with outrage, scandal, and noise. News thrives on shock value. Entertainment glorifies conflict. Even in our personal lives, we can get caught chasing the next crisis or feeding off the latest drama in our families, workplaces, or friendships.

But constant drama drains the soul. It spikes reaction, anxiety, and spiritual shallowness. Tola's season, without a bunch of recorded drama, had to be a relief. Under his leadership, Israel had twenty-three years to breathe, reset, and realign. No battles. No fires to put out. Just space for hearts to return to God.

And maybe that's what you need too—a season without noise. A time to simply be faithful and pursue God without drama. If you need this, ask God for it, and when it arrives, make sure you take advantage of the relief. Relief is a gift to reset your soul, recalibrate your heart, and draw you closer to Him. But it's also a time to safeguard your life from slipping back into spiritual laziness that leads to worshiping empty idols. One thing that always helps is a "Tola" who becomes for you an anchor for this time.

ASK THIS:

1. Do I see "no drama" seasons as a gift from God?
2. Where might I be chasing excitement instead of valuing faithfulness?
3. How can I be steady for those around me this week?
4. Who has been a "Tola" in my life, giving me stability when I needed it?

DO THIS:

Thank God today for the quiet blessings—the leaders, parents, mentors, or friends who brought peace instead of drama. Then choose one small act of faithfulness to steady someone else's life.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, thank You for the gift of stability. Help me embrace quiet faithfulness as a blessing, even when it feels small, and let me be a steady presence in the lives of others. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Faithful Now."