Devotions by Chris Hendrix

Have you ever noticed how fear always shows up at the moment you’re about to step out in faith? When God calls you to something, fear will show up and cause you to doubt. In those moments, you have a choice as to what voice you’re going to listen to. How you respond is often the difference between victory and defeat, blessing or curse, extraordinary or ordinary. There have been many times when I pushed fear aside and took the leap of faith. There have also been times when I let fear win, and I walked away in regret. To help myself make the right choice the next time, I try to train my brain into saying a quick a quick, “Yes,” followed by immediate action. I run through scenarios in my head and also repeat to myself the plan often. I don’t want to give fear a foothold.

In Numbers 13, God told Moses to,send a leader from each tribe into the Promised Land. So Moses chose twelve men and instructed them to go throughout the land looking at the cities, the terrain and the farmland. When the men returned, they said it was exactly as God promised, but the cities were walled and there were giants. They saw the blessings God had for them, but let fear create doubt. Verse 20 says, “But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. ‘Let’s go at once to take the land,’ he said. ‘We can certainly conquer it!’” (NLT) He wanted to move before fear could stop them, but it was too late. The community had listened to fear and they lived in a dessert rather than the promise. They are manna instead of milk and honey. They suffered the consequences of their choice.

When fear tries to kick in the door of my mind, I remind myself of God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10. God says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” When God calls you to it, He will fight for you. He will give you the strength needed to overcome. Walls will collapse. Giants will fall. Remember He is the one who will give the victory. You simply have to take the step of faith. Fear kept an entire generation from living in the blessings God had for them. Don’t let fear hold you back to. Ask God to give you the courage and take that first step quickly. God will see you through it. Choose faith and watch God show up. You’ll still have battles, and it won’t be easy, but you will also have victory and God’s blessings.

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One of my favorite knives growing up was the Swiss Army knife. I watched MacGyver use it to get out of almost every problem he faced. As I got older, I realized there were other knives, and I began to want them. I had a tactical knife likeRambo that had a compass on top with survival items inside the handle. However useful it was on campouts, it wasn’t very good at fileting the fish I caught. I needed a different knife for that. I’ve learned that there are knives I use almost every day, some for very specific purposes and others I keep on display because of their value or age. In their forging process, the artisan used their handiwork to create them for specific purposes. 

2 Timothy 2:20 says, “Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common)” (AMP). God creates each of us with a purpose in mind. Some of us have specialized purposes, some have daily purposes, some get the spotlight and others do their work with little to no appreciation in this life. God knows where your path will take you in this life. If you look at all the things you have been through, you will begin to see a pattern. God uses the things that have shaped you in order to help you reach others who are going through the things you have experienced.

When you look in the mirror, you need to see God’s handiwork. You are His special possession created to do good works in His name. You may think the things you’ve been through or the things you have done have disqualified you, but there is nothing further from the truth. God accounted for your mistakes and the things that have been done to you. He crafted you in your mother’s womb knowing all these things, and created a purpose for you through them. It’s no wonder Romans 8:28 says, “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” It’s time you embraced your purpose!

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Some friends and family like to call me a trigger puller because I’m the type of person who doesn’t sit around and wait once a decision has been made. I immediately do what was discussed or decided. I’m the same way when it comes to what I’m praying for or what I feel like God is telling me to do. The problem I run into is that God will often reveal what He’d like me to do or where He’d like me to go, but the door will be closed in that moment. After I try to kick it in a few times, I’m reminded to wait on His timing and leading. Most of the time He’s not waiting on me to be ready to obey. Instead He’s waiting on me to develop and grow more before I’m able to handle what He wants to lead me into. If we’re following God, then we must let Him lead with His timing and direction.

In Numbers 9, God had told the Israelites that the Promised Land was theirs. However, they weren’t ready to receive it. What should have taken a week or so to walk, was taking a lot longer. They had to learn to trust God and His leading. Verse 22 says, “Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud [of the Lord’s presence] lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the Israelites remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they set out” (AMP). God’s timing and movements were unpredictable. Sometimes they stayed at a place over night, and others much longer. They had to learn to move when He moved before they were ready to receive what was promised.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Trust in the Lord. Have faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord” (GNT). This was written by David before he was anointed king. He was someone else who had to trust the Lord’s timing. It was 14 years after he was anointed until he became king. God used that time to prepare him and the people. How long have you been waiting on God’s timing? Like His presence leading Israel, it may seem unpredictable, but keep trusting in Him. Don’t try to force it. In this period of waiting, ask God, “What do you want me to know while I wait? And what do you want to grow in my?” You may not be able to understand his “why” for the delay, but you will be able to understand what He wants you to know and grow. In the mean time, keep trusting in Him and His timing.

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When I was a teenager, I had a shirt that read, “Second place is first loser”. When I watched “Talladega Nights” and Ricky Bobby said, “If you’re not first, you’re last,” I laughed pretty hard. He expressed my mentality pretty well. I’ve always been on the competitive side. Part of that must come from being the middle child. I honestly can’t stand losing, and now my son has it. He got a 99 on a test this year. He came home disappointed and said, “I might as well have failed.” Not being first is a hard pill to swallow, but it is what Christ has called us to. When we accept Him, we are to get off the throne of our life to make Him number one, putting ourself in second place.

On the night before Jesus was to be crucified, He knew what was coming. For 33 years He knew what He was born to do. Even though He knew it, and was willing, His flesh fought back. In Mark 14:36, we hear Him pray, “Father, my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want” (GNT). He made a conscious effort in the most difficult circumstance to submit to God’s will and place His own in second place. He was demonstrating to us that we must yield to God and constantly offer Him first place in our lives. Anything less is not true submission to Him.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord” (AMP). Becoming a mature Christian is the process of giving up the throne of your life to Jesus. It’s willfully taking second place, which is a very hard thing to do. When we accept second place, and allow Him first place in our lives, we fulfill God’s will for our lives because we have life in proper order. If you’re struggling to give up first place, you’re not alone. It’s a daily process of taking up our cross, crucifying our flesh and following Him. Spiritual growth and maturity happen when we accept second place.

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Since I’m traveling today, enjoy this previously written devotion. I’ll return tomorrow with a new one.

A friend of mine was sharing with me how he had been witnessing to his uncle. One day they were out together and the uncle said, “I don’t know why I’m still here.” My friend replied, “God must have something for you to do still.” The uncle paused, looked at him and said, “You don’t know all the bad things I’ve done. I’ve done some horrible things.” My friend gently replied, “Those things are no match for the blood of Jesus. The grace of God is greater than anything you have done.” They uncle hesitantly admitted God had been dealing with him, but kept referring to who he had been. My friend said, “It doesn’t matter who you have been or how you have lived. What matters is how you respond to God’s grace.” Heaven rejoiced that day.

In Luke 19, Jesus was on His way through Jericho to Jerusalem. As He walked through the streets, crowds gathered around Him. There was a man in the crowd who had been dying to meet Jesus, but couldn’t see Him because he couldn’t see over the crowd. He then ran ahead of where Jesus was going and climbed up a sycamore tree so He could see Jesus. When Jesus got near him, He looked up and told Zacchaeus that He needed to go to his house. The people were upset that Jesus chose to go into the home of a notorious sinner. Zacchaeus responded to that invitation by saying he was going to give half of his possessions away to the poor and repay those he cheated. Jesus said that salvation had come into that house.

Ephesians 4:22-23 says, “So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new” (GNT). Our response to God’s grace should be to put off who we used to be. That becomes our old identity because now we identify as God’s child. Since we no longer identify as that person, we are to get rid of that behavior from our lives. God has given you a new identity that comes with new behaviors. Remember, it’s not about who you have been that matters. It’s how you respond to God’s grace. My friend’s uncle and Zacchaeus both changed their identities and how they lived. It’s time each of us allow ourselves to be made new.

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