When the Spirit Stirs | Judges 13:24-25

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

Today’s shout-out goes to Mike Herndon from Lumberton, TX. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God’s Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Judges 13:24-25

And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.— Judges 13:24-25

Samson’s birth was miraculous. His calling was unique. But notice how his story actually begins: quietly. A baby grows up. God blesses him. Nothing spectacular—until the text drops this line: “The Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.”

It wasn’t fireworks. It wasn’t dramatic. Just stirrings. Subtle, almost hidden. A restless tug here. An unexplainable drive there. The Spirit was preparing him for what would come later.

And that’s usually how God works in us, too. He doesn’t always announce His plans with thunder. Often, He stirs first. A conviction that lingers. A burden that won’t go away. A restlessness that keeps you awake at night. Those aren’t random feelings. They’re the Spirit’s fingerprints.

The danger is brushing them aside, waiting only for the dramatic. But ignoring the Spirit’s nudge means missing the very preparation for God’s greater work. Samson’s strength didn’t just “happen” one day. It was preceded by stirring.

Pay attention to the small whispers. Don’t dismiss the tugging in your spirit. That may be God preparing you for something bigger than you can see right now.

ASK THIS:

Where do I sense God stirring me today?
Have I been dismissing a conviction or burden as “nothing”?
What small step of obedience could I take to respond to His stirring?
DO THIS:
Instead of waiting for a dramatic sign, pay attention to the quiet nudge. Write down one area where you sense God stirring and take a single step of obedience toward it.

PRAY THIS:
Holy Spirit, don’t let me ignore Your stirrings. Teach me to recognize Your whispers and trust Your preparation, even when it feels small. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
“Oceans.”