Judges 21:25, "At that time there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing." Deuteronomy 7:9, "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him."

Think

The book of Judges covers a time in Israel's history that isn't a shining example of their obedience to God - but it is a shining example of God's faithfulness to them. The Israelites indulged in idol worship and the immoral behavior of neighboring nations. This blatant disobedience led to harsh consequences as God allowed them to face foreign oppression. Yet, He heard His people's cries for help and raised up leaders time and again to deliver them from this spin cycle of rebellion. It's easy to "judge" (pun intended) the Israelites for worshiping false gods. But, before we point fingers, we need to look at ourselves, because idol worship is anything that distracts us from putting God first. We might not literally worship golden statues, but we are just as guilty of not always giving God top billing in our lives. So, if we repeatedly put other things before God, we, too, will face consequences. How can we break this cycle? Memory is key! The best way to overcome our forgetfulness of God's faithfulness is found in the pages of Scripture. Daily Bible study and prayer makes a world of difference as we fix our focus on God and live out His amazing plan for our lives.

Act

Confession is not informing God of anything He doesn't know, but it does keep the lines of communication open. Confess to God those times you have been unfaithful to Him and, with a repentant heart, turn from your sin and ask for His help to keep you from repeating the same behavior.

Pray

Dear Lord, I want to obey You. But time after time, I fall short of honoring You with my words and actions. Guide me so that I may grow to be more like Jesus every day and become a shining example of Your faithfulness, forgiveness, and grace. Thank You, God! In Jesus' name, Amen.