Turning Back to the Lord

Date: December 30, 2025

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 7:3

“So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’”

Samuel speaks to a people who wanted God’s help but were still holding on to competing loyalties. His message is direct and uncompromising. Returning to the Lord is not a partial decision or an emotional moment; it is a wholehearted turning. Repentance involves both direction and devotion — turning away from what competes with God and committing fully to Him.

This verse exposes a truth that remains relevant today. We often want God’s deliverance without surrendering the things that distract our hearts. Samuel makes it clear that freedom follows faithfulness. When Israel removed what did not belong and chose to serve the Lord alone, they positioned themselves to experience God’s power and protection.

Returning to God always involves action. It means identifying what has taken His place in our hearts and intentionally removing it. Serving the Lord only does not limit our lives; it aligns them. God’s call to exclusive devotion is an invitation into freedom, not restriction.

Main Takeaways

• True repentance requires wholehearted commitment to God.
• Divided loyalties hinder spiritual freedom and growth.
• Deliverance follows surrender and obedience to the Lord.

Cross-Referencing Scriptures

• Joshua 24:14: “Serve Him with all faithfulness.”
• 1 Kings 18:21: “How long will you waver between two opinions?”
• James 4:8: “Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

Examine your heart today and ask what needs to be removed so you can return fully to the Lord. Commit yourself to Him alone, trusting that surrender leads to freedom and obedience opens the door for His deliverance.