DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT
Today's reading:  Judges 12-16

"Then she (Delilah) cried out, Samson!  The Philistines came to capture you!  When he woke up he thought, I will do as before and shake myself free.  But he didn't realize the Lord had left him."  Judges 16:20 NLT

He didn't even know it.

He didn't feel any different.

He didn't look any different.

He didn't act any different.

How and when did it happen?

It happened in small stages as he made choices that didn't please God. 

Spur of the moment choices.  Choices made based on lust.  Revenge filled choices.  Refusing to listen to the advice of his godly parents kind of choices.  Choices that made him look good among his friends.

Slowly Samson turned from God, and slowly, but painfully, God allowed him to go.

And this morning, as Scripture verifies, Samson woke up to find where his choices had taken him--to a very lonely, weak and bound place.

What about my own choices?  Are they steadily drawing me closer to God, or farther away?