The Power of God is pulling you back (that is why THAT is happening to you!)

Mar 01, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Drifting from God After His Blessings

It is a subtle and common occurrence for believers to begin to drift from their close walk with God after experiencing His blessings. The initial desperation that drove them to prayer and worship can fade as material and relational comforts increase. This drift is not a conscious rejection of God but a gradual shift of focus onto the gifts rather than the Giver. The joy and peace that once marked their life begin to thin, replaced by a sense of struggle they cannot quite explain. This is the first sign that a heart needs to be reclaimed by its Savior. [52:37]

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
Judges 2:10-12 (KJV)

Reflection: As you consider the current state of your walk with God, can you identify a specific blessing in your life that has unintentionally taken a place of priority over your daily time with Him? What would it look like to intentionally refocus your gratitude back onto the Giver this week?

Day 2: The Battle That Is of Our Own Making

Often, the spiritual battles we claim to be fighting are not attacks from an external enemy but the direct consequence of our own neglect. When we stop spending consistent time in prayer, worship, and God's Word, we step out from under the umbrella of His sustaining peace and joy. The resulting strain on our relationships, our peace, and our outlook is then mislabeled as a demonic assault. In His mercy, God allows this pressure not to destroy us, but to wake us up and call us back to the source of our strength. [54:19]

And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Judges 2:13-14 (KJV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have been quick to blame spiritual warfare, that upon closer examination, might actually be the result of drifting from a consistent, intimate connection with God? What is one practical step you can take to return to that place of connection today?

Day 3: God’s Merciful Call to Return and Be Reclaimed

Our God is not a harsh judge waiting to punish us for our drift; He is a gracious Father who actively calls us back to Himself. His heart is one of mercy and great kindness, slow to anger and full of compassion. He does not discard those who are broken or have strayed, but instead seeks to restore and reclaim them. This call is an act of profound love, designed to draw us away from the empty things we have pursued and back into the safety and abundance of His presence. [01:09:35]

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Joel 2:12-13 (KJV)

Reflection: Where have you sensed God’s gentle, kind pull on your heart recently, inviting you to return to a closer walk with Him? How will you respond to that invitation in a tangible way this week?

Day 4: Serving God in Both Good Times and Bad

A mature faith learns to worship God not only in seasons of desperate need but also in seasons of abundant blessing. The pattern of only crying out to God when in trouble limits our relationship with Him and our understanding of His character. True devotion is shown when we continue to prioritize prayer, worship, and fellowship with His people even when life is comfortable and going well. This consistent faithfulness in all seasons is what guards our hearts from the subtle drift of complacency. [01:10:24]

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:12-13 (KJV)

Reflection: How does your pattern of seeking God—through prayer, reading Scripture, and gathering with believers—change between times of difficulty and times of ease? What would it look like to cultivate a consistent hunger for God, regardless of your circumstances?

Day 5: The Decision to Refocus and Surrender Fully

The call to return is not a call to a lengthy process of self-reformation, but a decision to surrender fully in the present moment. It does not require making a list of things to stop doing, but simply a choice to start serving God with all your heart, mind, and strength right now. This is a decision that impacts our eternal destination and unlocks the fullness of God’s purpose for our lives. It is an honest assessment of our current position and a willing realignment with God’s will. [01:17:44]

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:24-25 (KJV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your schedule or one commitment of your heart that needs to be realigned right now to ensure God is truly at the top? Are you willing to make that adjustment as a concrete step of surrender today?

Sermon Summary

Judges 2 provides the theological hook for a clear, urgent call to restart devotion and reclaim what faith once secured. The narrative frames a thirty-five-day journey toward Resurrection observance that demands three simultaneous efforts: readying the church facility and environment, organizing outreach and marketing, and deepening private devotion so the Spirit can move. The text warns that generations who “knew not the Lord” drift into idolatry not by sudden revolt but by slow neglect—by letting blessings become the focus instead of the Blesser. The pattern repeats: God rescues, people prosper, attentiveness declines, worship grows sporadic, and the hand of blessing withdraws until God must reclaim wandering hearts.

Practical examples tighten the point. New converts who once prayed over bills, marriages, and health begin to enjoy tangible improvements; then habits fray, prayer life shrinks, and attendance becomes negotiable. Blessings morph into distractions when gratitude shifts from God to goods. The remedy centers on honest self-examination, renewed worship, and daily spiritual disciplines—Bible reading, prayer, and consistent fellowship. God’s mercy persists: every time Israel repented, God raised deliverers. The divine posture remains compassionate and patient, inviting restoration rather than condemnation.

The call to action moves from diagnosis to deployment. Individuals are urged to sign up for ministries, reprioritize schedules, and commit to being workers in a time of cultural chaos that needs clear witness. Altar responses, corporate prayer, and congregational encouragement get framed as concrete steps for reclaiming momentum. Church life must also practice grace toward one another—stop rehashing past failures and instead help people move forward. Logistics—Bible study times, outreach planning, and volunteer rosters—anchor the spiritual push so revival translates into sustained fruit. The closing emphasis returns to the gospel: Jesus remains the deliverer, and God draws back wandering souls with relentless, patient love. The immediate invitation: refocus on God, receive restoration, and enter the thirty-five-day preparation dedicated to worship, witness, and wholehearted service.

Key Takeaways

1. God reclaims drifting hearts A loving God does not abandon wayward people but moves to restore them. Reclaiming happens through conviction, prayer, and a willingness to return to basic disciplines. When people admit drift and take concrete steps back into worship and obedience, God responds with deliverance and renewal. [40:24]
2. Beware spiritual drift after blessing Material or emotional blessings can seduce the heart away from dependence on God. The moment gratitude becomes fixation, discipline weakens and worship becomes optional. Watch intentions and routines closely so prosperity enlarges testimony rather than narrows devotion. [42:03]
3. Keep the Blesser before blessings Naming God as the source of every good prevents idolatry of success and possessions. Regular attributable thanksgiving—crediting God aloud and in habit—keeps perspective and fuels humility. That posture sustains long-term faithfulness when pressure returns. [1:08:11]
4. Practical surrender produces sustained fruit Simple, immediate commitments—scheduling Bible time, signing up to serve, coming forward for prayer—translate conviction into lasting change. Spiritual growth requires adjustments to plans and priorities, not merely emotional impulses. Structured surrender produces measurable growth in prayer life, witness, and community impact. [1:19:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:07] - Preparing for Resurrection: a 35-day call
[37:22] - Sign-ups, pamphlet, and participation
[37:57] - Resurrection focus: Jesus and kids’ outreach
[38:41] - Bible study changes and mic availability
[39:23] - Judges 2:10–12: forgetting the Lord
[40:24] - When God reclaims wandering hearts
[42:03] - Joy of salvation and risk of drift
[49:02] - Testimony of drifting after blessing
[52:54] - Examine motives; return to worship
[1:12:17] - Mobilize for outreach: 35-day mission
[1:19:14] - Altar call: surrender and commitment
[1:39:50] - Closing logistics and Bible study details

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Judges 2:10-12 (KJV)
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

Observation questions

According to the passage, what was the primary spiritual condition of the new generation that arose?
What specific actions did the children of Israel take that are listed as "evil in the sight of the LORD"?
The sermon describes a pattern of spiritual drift that often follows a time of blessing [49:02]. What does this passage say the people did after they forsook the Lord?
What reason is given for why the people should have remained faithful to the Lord?

Interpretation questions

The text says the new generation "knew not the LORD." How does a person or a generation go from knowing God to not knowing Him? Is this typically a sudden or a gradual process?
The sermon describes how blessings can become a distraction, shifting focus from the Blesser to the blessings themselves [51:06]. How might prosperity and comfort have contributed to Israel's forgetfulness and eventual idolatry?
The passage states that the people "forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt." Why is remembering God's past deliverance so crucial for maintaining present faithfulness?
God's response to this rebellion is described as his anger being "hot." How does this display of God's anger coexist with the picture of a loving God who reclaims drifting hearts?

Application questions

Spiritual drift often happens so slowly we don't even realize it [52:20]. What are one or two subtle signs in your own life that might indicate you are starting to drift, such as prayer life shortening or church attendance becoming negotiable?
The joy of salvation can fade when we stop spending time with God [52:54]. What does your current schedule reveal about what you truly prioritize? What is one practical adjustment you can make this week to ensure God is at the top of your schedule, not just squeezed in?
It's possible to mistake God's corrective pressure for a demonic attack [53:57]. When you face strain in your marriage, thin joy, or disturbed peace, what is your first response? How could you develop a habit of first asking, "Lord, are you trying to get my attention?" before rebuking the enemy?
The remedy for drift centers on honest self-examination and a return to basic spiritual disciplines [01:12:45]. Which foundational habit—Bible reading, prayer, or consistent fellowship—feels most neglected in your life right now? What is one tangible, immediate step you can take to recommit to it?
God reclaims drifting hearts through a willingness to return [40:24]. Is there an area where you know you need to surrender to God again? What would it look like to stop making a list of things to stop doing and to simply start serving Him wholeheartedly right now?
Serving God in both good times and bad times is a mark of mature faith [01:10:24]. How does your praise and commitment level change when life is going well compared to when you are in a crisis? What would it look like to cultivate a heart of worship that is not dependent on circumstances?
The call is to be a worker in a time of cultural chaos [01:11:53]. What is one way you can practically "get active" for the kingdom in the next 35 days, whether it's signing up for a ministry, committing to outreach, or dedicating time to pray for the lost?

Sermon Clips

37s

#KeepGodFirst

“But the more you got your mind on the things that god's given to you and you stop looking to god, the more you drift and the more you begin to drift away from god, the less he blesses you. See, when you want joy, come to church and worship him. You get in the presence of god and there's joy unspeakable and full of glory but the less you spend time with god, the less joy of god you have and it's in those times, those that are drifting begin to say some incredible things.”

68s

#WakeUpToPrayer

“God was trying to allow some pressure into his life. Not to destroy him but to wake him up. His peace was disturbed. His marriage felt strained. And joy felt thin. of getting his body back to the altar. Instead of opening up his Bible and putting his nose back in the book, he kept on rebuking the devil. Stand alone, spiritual self up in church house. I'm in the battle everybody, but pray, I'm gonna make it. I'm gonna get through my season. This is a season of battle and I'm gonna make it. Finally, the preacher had to cut through all of that noise. You're in a battle but not of the devil's making. It's your own making. Say, you're born in the fire and the smoke won't do. Get back to prayer. Get back to regular worship attendance. Get back to just being a child of god.”

34s

#GraceTransforms

“Some of you don't know what it feels like to be impoverished. Some of you don't know what it's like to to walk around every day in a desperate state of mind and can't change a crying thing. Amen. So, when I talk about the freedom that we have in gods, the joy that we have when god picks you up, washes you off, and put you on solid ground. Some of you don't know that joy but some of you, you know that joys. Amen. By the grace of god, I'm not what I used to be. By the grace of god, he has molded me to be something different and now we can begin to serve god and we can pray. God, I need a blessing.”

51s

#RememberTheGiver

“He doesn't discard that which is broken. He wants to reclaim it and bring it back. He wants to restore you this morning. Now, you're limiting yourself. I need everybody to hear what I'm saying this morning. You are limiting your walk with god. If every time god blesses you, you stop and spend more time on the blessings more than god. You will never be able to fully get to where god wants you to get to unless you can be able to keep your eyes on on god. Lord, thank you for that car. You're the one that gave it to me. God, I thank you for that job but god, you're the one that gave it to me. I thank you for my new clothes but god, you're the one that gave me it. I thank you for my new shoes. You're the one that blessed me with the finest. God, I thank you. Somebody say, I thank you lord.”

66s

#BattleOfDrift

“You're in a battle. Not because the devil's just trying to destroy. He's trying to destroy everybody. You're in a battle because you forgot the god that blessed you. You forgot the god that saved you and as you begin to enjoy his blessing, I thank god for his blessings. I thank god for the blessings of god. He's been good to us. I thank him for his health. I thank him for the joy. I thank him for the strength to make it every single day. I I thank him when I need a financial blessing. The blessings come in. Can somebody say amen this morning? Amen. I thank god for all that he's doing. But I've learned not to keep my mind on those blessings when I should be looking at the blesser. Somebody”

34s

#ServeGodInGoodTimes

“So, somewhere along the line, you got to learn how to serve god not only in the bad times but in the good times. When you're blessed with a new job, when you get a promotion, when there's money in the bank, I still need you to come and praise his name. When you've got everything going your way, I need to see you jumping and shouting and dancing and giving him the praise and the glory. When they begin to offer you the world and say, do all this and and we'll give you all this. You gotta learn to say, no. I'd rather have god than that fancy job. Keep your title. If it means I have to stop serving the lord.”

42s

#DontDriftBack

“But when your bills are paid, he's blessed you with a new job. Your rent is paid. The car payment is paid. Your insurance is paid. Oh god. The car is full of gas. I think I'll sleep in this morning. I don't have to really get home. We got right now. I think I'll stay home. It it's a little ways to eat the Bible say. I think I'll I'll catch him next week. You're drifting. And god is trying to say come back. It's not that you're just in a battle and that you longer have the joy of god. In order to have the joy of god, you gotta spend time with god.”

77s

#WantToServe

“See, I believe that people do what people want to do. And when you want to serve him, you will serve him. Your hip will hurt. Your toe could be hurting. Come on now. It all depends on how bad you want to serve the lord. See, this man kept telling nobody in the church. I'm in a battle. I'm in a battle. The battle is because he was no longer spending time with god. He didn't wake up in the morning and read his Bible. Somebody said, I have a scripture that comes to me every day and that's my Bible reading. And I said, say again, I am working hard, brother Victor, on being a good pastor. I don't pass that rebukes every day. You get a scripture come across your phone, and that's your bible readings?”

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New Testament Christian Church - Irving, TX This sermon · AI assistant

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