Day 116

Judges 20–21 | Acts 13:1–12

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It started with a just cause.

The tribes of Israel rallied together to right a wrong—the brutal crime in Gibeah couldn’t be ignored.

But somewhere along the way, justice twisted into vengeance.

Victory bled into brutality.

Retaliation outpaced righteousness.

By the end, an entire tribe was nearly wiped out—and Israel was scrambling to fix the disaster they’d made.

Not by returning to God. Not by repenting. But by coming up with one more strategy.

Manmade solutions stacked on manmade mistakes.

And the final line of Judges sounds like a funeral:

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

When I Try to Lead Myself

I see more of myself in Judges 21 than I want to admit.

I start with good intentions. I see a problem, feel a burden, want to act. But somewhere along the way, I start relying on my instincts instead of God’s Word. I move fast instead of praying long. I plan harder instead of listening deeper.

And without even realizing it, the work of my hands starts drifting from the heart of God.

It doesn’t usually look evil. It just looks… self-led.

And like Israel, I can find myself scrambling to fix a mess that wouldn’t exist if I’d surrendered first.

The Contrast We Need

Then Acts 13.

While Israel schemes, the early church in Antioch waits. They aren’t plotting a strategy. They’re worshiping. Fasting. Listening.

And in that posture of surrender, the Spirit speaks:

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)

No scrambling.

No scheming.

Just sending.

Barnabas and Saul don’t volunteer. They’re set apart. They don’t strategize their mission. They step into the one the Spirit had already prepared.

And when opposition comes—because it always does—they don’t panic or plot or backpedal.

Paul speaks. The Spirit moves. Darkness falls on the deceiver. And the gospel keeps advancing.

Where Am I Listening—And Where Am I Leading Myself?

Lately, I’ve felt the tension between these two postures.

Professionally. Personally. Spiritually.

There are places where I’m trying to fast and pray and listen—asking God not just to bless my plans but to build them.

But there are other places—if I’m honest—where I’m still scheming. Still scrambling. Still trying to figure out how to fix the uncertainty before it gets too uncomfortable.

I find myself drafting five- and ten-year plans in my head when I haven’t even prayed through today.

Judges 21 is a mirror I don’t want, but desperately need.

Because self-led solutions might look efficient—perhaps even impressive. But they won’t birth the kingdom.

Only Spirit-led lives do that.

The Work of Waiting

I don’t like waiting.

I like movement. Progress. Plans.

But Acts 13 reminds me: the most important movement doesn’t start with doing.

It starts with listening.

The church wasn’t paralyzed in their waiting.

They were postured.

Eyes up.

Hearts open.

Ready for the Spirit to speak—and ready to obey when He did.

That’s the kind of posture I want in this season.

Not frantic.

Not paralyzed.

Not self-sufficient.

Just ready.

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Lord, teach me to live Spirit-led, not self-led. I don’t want to build towers of good intentions that crumble without You. I don’t want to strategize myself into exhaustion. I want to fast, to worship, to listen—and to move when You say move. Keep me low enough to hear You. Keep me bold enough to obey You. And keep me close enough to trust You with the outcomes I can’t control.

Amen.