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God has you

FULLY DEVOTED | WEEK 2

WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5


INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read the devotional.
2. Answer the reflection questions.
3. Read + Engage in the “Devoted Practices.”

DEVOTIONAL

For a number of years I’ve used a simple phrase to encourage people. I’ve used it in sermons, text messages, conversations, emails, and even an occasional hashtag on social media.

“God sees you.
 God loves you. 
God has you.” 

Take a moment and think about these simple statements.  

God sees you. He sees you right where you are. He sees your anxieties, stressors, and worries. He sees your hurts, disappointments, frustrations, and fears. He also sees your dreams, hopes, aspirations and prayers. He sees it all, he understands who you are, where you are, and what you need. God sees you.

God loves you. He loves you just as you are. You are his child. He loves you even when your love for him is a struggle. He loves you when you succeed and when you fail. He loves you when you are kind and even when you are angry. He loves everything about you with a love that only our Heavenly Father can posses over the children he created. It’s a type of love that changes everything about who you are, what you care about, and who you long to be. God loves you.

God has you. He really does. 
There is something about these three words that speak to our dependence, our trust, our rest, and our worship. You can depend on him, he will never fail. You can trust in him, he is always faithful. You can rest in him, he’s not expecting you to carry the weight of the world, he’s got that. You can worship him because there is nothing God doesn’t hold in his hand. He has it all, he is your anchor, your firm foundation, your rock! God has you. 

In Exodus 14 there is a moment when God’s people find themselves standing at the edge of the Red Sea in front of them and a charging Egyptian army behind them. They are pinned, with nowhere to go, trapped between an ocean of impossibility and their enemy closing in and about to take them out. Can you relate with this moment? On one hand is the threat and fear of the enemy (a.k.a. those who are against us, a world that keeps pushing us down, or a spiritual battle). On the other hand is an ocean of what seems like impossible scenarios and disappointing life situations leaving you know nowhere to go except deeper into despair, fear, loss, disappointment, anxiety, and pain.

What do you do in moments like this?

Exodus 14:13-16 says, Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

This is one of the most jaw-dropping miracles we find in the scriptures. God parts the Red Sea and the Israelites cross over on dry ground with walls of water on their right and left (an amazing scene!). Then at just the right moment the Lord defeats the Egyptians and the enemy is gone. Poof!

And just like that
e v e r y t h i n g
changed. 

What seemed like the end became a new beginning.
What seemed like God forgot them became the moment they realized God never forgets and never fails. 

He always sees us.
He always loves us.
He always has us. 

There are so many rock solid theological points to be made about this story, but one thing that can’t be overstated is the importance that this was the moment the Israelites were most afraid, most desperate, most out of options, and most powerless and it’s the same moment they are told to do nothing. Verse 14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” In other words God is like, “Listen, don’t sweat it, I got this…in fact you should watch this one, it’s gonna be pretty epic.” 

The truth is God always has
them,
that,
it,
those,
then,
and you. 

Romans 8:31 says, “What, then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

In response to what things? All the things that tell you that all is lost, that there’s no hope left, that the world can’t be fixed, or that he/she/they are against you. All the discouragement that comes to you in the form of oceans of impossibilities or the enemy coming against you.  All the times you feel unseen, unloved, and unhad (not a word, but let’s go with it) — in all of those times you have to believe that God is for you. And if God is for you then no one and no thing can really be against you because nothing compares to God’s mighty hand, his endless love, and his faithful promises.

Can I give you some good advice? 
Two things. 
1. First — The lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. (oh…well that advice is actually from the Bible, not me).

2. Second — What should you say to “all the things” coming at your life? — You should say, “God is for me.” (also from the Bible).

You don’t need to depend on yourself, them, or that — just be still, God has you. You don’t have to worry or stress about that thing, you can trust him — be still and know that God has you. You can rest, so take a breath and have some fun — God is for you. You can worship without restraint, shame, or any doubt — because your Heavenly Father is for you! He has your back!

Be encouraged, you can remain fully devoted no matter what you are up against because…
God sees you.
God loves you.
God has you. 


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REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Write your answers in a journal or in a “notes” app on your device.

1. Trust God and be still.
Do you have something going on in your life right now that you need to turn over to God? Something that is causing fear, worry, frustration, anger? What is it? Perhaps you are working really hard to fix this issue or trying to control the outcome. Name that thing by writing it down and then praying to the Lord, say, “Lord I’m giving this to you…I’m trusting that you have it, so I am going be still.” Take the next week to be still with “this thing” and instead of worrying or controlling, simply pray, wait, and see what happens. 

2. How can you grow more fully devoted?
Believing that God has you gives you the confidence and courage to keep growing as a fully devoted follower of Jesus. Write down one thought to each of the four categories below that you can do this week and through the course of this devotional. 

  • 1. What is one way you want to depend on God? (Instead of yourself, others, money, etc…)
    2. What is one way you want to trust God with a worry or stressor? 
    3. What is one way you want to rest more intentionally as an act of faith and worship?
    4. What is one way you want to worship more freely and consistently?

3. Optional: Worship with the song, “Promises Never Fail” (click to watch)

4. Watch or listen to the sermon “GOD HAS YOU” from 3/7/21 (click to watch)


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DEVOTED PRACTICES
Practices & patterns of a life devoted to Jesus. Below are the instructions on the 2 Devoted Practices to experience the rest of the week.


1. HIDE THE WORD IN YOUR HEART -
The Practice of Scripture Memory
One of the most powerful practices of a devoted life is scripture memorization.

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2. CONTENDING OVER CONSUMING -
The Practice of Fasting & Prayer


WEEK 2 - DENY 1 FOOD
Remember if you’re doing DEVOTED+ then you’ll also be scheduling a One Hour Prayer time this week

1. What Is It? — If you are familiar with how Christians practice the Lent season this is a similar experience. In this case you’re challenged to choose one food related item to sacrifice or deny yourself. Examples include, denying yourself; breads, sweets, your favorite drink, meat, eating out, coffee, or your favorite snack.

2. Why Do It? — The idea is to deny yourself (deny the flesh) of something you typically may crave and go to regularly. This practice is an act of worship (Rom 12:1), but also a training exercise in your discipline (1 Cor 9:25). When we grow in our discipline in small sacrifices like this it will grow our confidence and ability to be disciplined in bigger things like prayer, scripture reading, exercise, and even in our relationships. Small discipline and sacrifice leads to greater discipline and greater sacrifice.

3. How Do I Prepare? — Choose your one food related item before the week begins (no later than Monday of week 2). If the one item requires adjustments to meal planning make sure you’re ready to go. Don’t get tripped up by a lack of planning.

Ultimately, we are sacrificing this one thing as as an act of worship and devotion to God. By simply giving up one thing we eat/drink we can say, “Lord, I want my focus and attention to be on you.”

Additionally, this is how we train ourselves as fully devoted followers of Jesus. This spiritual practice trains us to deny what the flesh wants in order to make way for the Spirit to lead us. Romans 8:5-6 says, Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities. For the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mindset controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace. We want to be governed and led by the Spirit and the practice of denying 1 Food. Denying serves as a training exercise for your mind and body, expanding your capacity to be able to do more (or in this case deny more and discipline your body in greater ways).


Additional Instructions: