Devotions by Chris Hendrix

Several years ago I was flying standby to Israel with a pilot friend of mine. We got to the gate and saw that I was number 15 on the standby list. He said, “I’ve been doing this a long time and you’re not going to be getting on this flight today.” I felt in my spirit that I was so I replied, “Have faith. It’s going to happen.” He said, li hate to burst your bubble, but I’ve never seen it happen. You’re not going today.” I said, li have faith. Let’s see what happens.” The people lined up and boarded the plane. He said, “I told you,” but they hadn’t closed the gate. Just then they green lighted the entire standby list up to my name. A plane carrying a bunch of people to get on that flight was delayed and opened the door. God made a way when there seemed to be no way.

In Numbers 13, God told Moses to send a leader from each tribe into the Promised Land to verify what He said was true. They came back bearing fruit showing what God said was true. However, they said there were giants in the land who were stronger than they were and wouldn’t be able to defeat them. Verse 30 says, “Caleb silenced the people who were complaining against Moses, and said, ‘We should attack now and take the land; we are strong enough to conquer it” (GNT). The others changed their tune and started saying the land wouldn’t support them and turned the group’s mentality so that they chose not to advance into the blessing God prepared for them. 40 years later, God allowed Caleb and Joshua the privilege of going in because of their faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]” (AMP). A big part of following Jesus is trusting His Word over what you see. You can let what you see steal the title deed from the Promised Land or you can stand on faith that sees beyond your physical senses and advance. The choice is always yours based on whose report you believe. Every promise of God will have obstacles and processes to receive it. By faith you will overcome and receive if you’re willing to trust Him and go through them. Don’t be stuck in the wilderness because of fear. Step out in faith and fight for what He’s promised.

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After Adam and Eve sinned, shame entered the world. That shame caused them to try to cover up their sin and also to try to hide from God. Today, it still does the same thing to us. It speaks in our mind to tell us we’re not worthy of God’s grace. It says that We don’t deserve His forgiveness. It builds a wall in our relationship with Him and with others. It makes us feel as if we are the on,y one who has done this and that no one else could possibly understand in its effort to isolate us. Shame is something we all deal with on some level. It affects our behavior and attacks our identity. It knows if it can get you to question whose you are then it has the power to change how you act.

In John 13, Jesus had just been arrested in front of the disciples. Earlier that night, Peter had told Him he would fight to the death for Him. However, as Peter watched from a distance, he was questioned by a little girl saying he was a disciple. In that moment, he denied knowing Jesus. Two more times he swore he didn’t know Jesus, a rooster crowed and then Jesus turned to look at him. Peter ram outside and wept bitterly in his shame. Even after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them, shame had a hold on Peter. He went back to his old life of fishing. It took Jesus asking him to admit he loved Him three times to break the power of shame. Peter had to quit listening to the voice of shame telling him he was unworthy to be a follower and replaced that voice with the voice of Jesus saying, “Feed my sheep.” Listening to the voice of Jesus gave him his identity back.

In John 14:26 Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you” (GNT). Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us overcome shame. He reminds us of the words of Jesus that says you are His child. I love that the next verse says He will also give us peace. That peace shuts down the voice of shame. That peace helps us rest in the assurance that we can rest in His grace rather than to try to earn it. His promise to us to give us peace and the voice of the Holy Spirit are powerful tools to help you fight against shame that wants to make its home in your mind. Be like Peter and choose to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that reminds you of your identity in Him. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that says your past is not held against you because it has been cast into the Sea of Forgiveness. You have an ally in the Holy Spirit on your side to help you beat shame.

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In the summer Olympics of 2024 in Paris, Simone Biles sealed her legacy as the greatest gymnast of all time. She won gold in the individual all around and also in the team all around. Her legacy had been set. Her floor routine was one of the most difficult routines ever conceived. It was a shock when Rebeca Andrade edged her for gold in the floor routine after coming in second in the vault and all around. American Jordan Chiles was the bronze winner in the floor routine and shared the podium with Biles for a moment before Andrade was called up for her gold. When they called her name to receive the gold, both Biles and Chiles bowed to her as an act of honor. It’s was a great moment of sportsmanship and humility.

In Matthew 8, Jesus was approached by a Roman Centurion seeking help for his young servant. The crowd was shocked to see something like this since the Roman’s lorded their dominance over the Jews. When Jesus said He would go and heal the servant, the Roman guard replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed” (NLT). He went on to say how he was a man who had authority, but was also under authority. He recognized Jesus as a man of authority and humbly sought healing for his servant. Before speaking the word to heal the servant, Jesus made note of his faith and humility to the crowd saying that people like him would be in heaven before those who arrogantly thought it was their right. His humility opened the door to God’s blessings and answered prayer.

We’ve all quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 a hundred times at least as a call to pray for our nation. It says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” We tend to gloss over the part that says, “will humble themselves.” It’s not just prayer and faith that opens the door to national healing. It’s humility. It’s bowing down to God saying that He is the solution to our nation’s issues. Like the Centurion, there’s lots we can do, but our efforts are limited without humbly coming to Jesus who has the actual authority to bring healing. Humility is the key to access the throne of God. It’s time we collectively, as the Church, bowed in reverence to the One who has Al, authority in heaven and earth, seek His face and turn from our sin. Then we will see the answers to our prayers and find the healing we so desperately need.

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I recently asked some teens whether they thought it was easier for a leader to be a follower or a follower to be a leader. The group split and shared their reasons for their thinking. What do you think? I shared how last fall I produced a theater show and how I had to make a lot of the main decisions for the show. Then this spring I did concessions for the next show. When people started asking me questions, I started making executive decisions thinking I was helping the leader. Instead I got a call from the producer reminding me those weren’t my decisions to make. It was difficult for me to go from making my own decisions to submitting and following what someone else decided because we had different opinions about how things should go.

In Matthew 4:19-20 we read how Jesus walked up to fishermen who owned their own businesses. It says, “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him” (NLT). They immediately went from making executive decisions about their lives to submitting to Him before anyone knew who He was. Contrast that with Matthew 8:18-22 where a person called out to Jesus asking to follow Him and Jesus let him know he was going to have to give up everything. Then Jesus asked someone else to follow Him. The man replied that he would after his father died and he got his inheritance. Each of these people acted like they wanted to follow Jesus, but they weren’t ready to give up executive decisions for their lives.

In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments” (AMP). It’s easy to say a prayer asking Jesus into your heart. What’s hard is giving Him lordship over your life where you give up your rights to decide how you live. We identify with the commitment of the disciples, but often live like the two other people who didn’t want to submit. If you look at your life right now, would it reflect that Jesus is in charge of the decisions for your life or that He simply guides them? It’s hard to go from the leader of your life to following someone else deciding for you, especially since His way is at war with our flesh. His call still goes out to us to follow Him. Will you become a follower who keeps and obeys His commandments?

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In high school, our coach was also our P.E. instructor. He would use that class as a conditioning class for us as well. We did a ton of calisthenics and core building . One particular exercise was very tough. We called it the Roman Chair. Each student lined up against the walls of the gym. When he blew the whistle, we had to sink down until our knee was at a right angle. We then had to hold it for a few minutes. Our legs would shake under the pressure and pain. When coach would turn around, some kids would ease up the wall to relieve the pressure. When he started to turn back around, they would quickly go back down to keep from getting caught. If he caught them, we all had to add another minute. It turns out that the people who kept trying to relieve the pressure, only hurt themselves. Their muscles, tolerance and core didn’t build or strengthen like they should have.

After David defeated Goliath, he went from a nobody to a household name quickly. That put a target on his back from King Saul. At times he swerved in the kings court and other times he ran for his life. After a while he was only on the run forcing him to live in caves, search for food and figure out who to trust. He lived under constant pressure. There were a couple of instances where he had the opportunity to take Saul’s life and gain the kingdom, but he resisted the urge to relieve the pressure he was under. His advisers kept urging to kill Saul, but David didn’t break. He understood God was in control and would give him the kingdom when He was ready to. It turns out that God was strengthening and preparing David to be the best king he could be through those years of being under pressure.

Hebrews 10:36 says, “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised” (NLT). The Amplified version adds that we should bear up under the pressures without compromising. When the pressure is on us, the easy thing is to ease up that wall, dispose of our problems or do something to relieve the pressure. However, God uses pressure to strengthen, condition and prepare us for the future He has for us. If you’re constantly trying to get out from under the pressure today, you will be underdeveloped for tomorrow. Patient endurance, the ability to bear up under the pressure, is what we need right now. When we learn to remain under what He brings our way, we will be able to receive all that He has for us. Instead of praying or trying to remove the pressure, ask God to give you the endurance you need so He can prepare you fully.

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