Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for August 12

OVERCOMING OPPOSITION

From: August 12, 2025

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14 ESV).

Nehemiah spoke these words while leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Their enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and others—were ridiculing, threatening, and plotting against them. In the face of fear, Nehemiah called the leaders and people together. His strategy was twofold: spiritual focus and practical action. First, he reminded them of the greatness and awesomeness of the Lord, echoing the exhortations of God’s charge to Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9) and His word through the prophet Haggai to “be strong, do the work and to be fearless” (Haggai 2:4–5). Second, he gave them a personal reason to fight: for their families and their homes. Nehemiah’s leadership combined faith in God with resolute action in the face of opposition.

Any time we engage in the work of God—whether building up a family, serving in ministry, or sharing the gospel—we will encounter opposition. Fear is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons to paralyze us. Nehemiah’s call is a reminder to fix our eyes first on the Lord’s greatness. Fear fades when we see the size of our God compared to the size of our problems. Then, we must take action. The work of God requires more than good intentions; it demands courage, perseverance, and personal investment. What’s at stake? Not just a project, but people—our brothers, sisters, children, spouses, and communities. When we remember who God is and what’s on the line, we can overcome fear and press on in His work. Today, as we consider the “wall” God has called us to build, where are we tempted to give in to fear? Let us remember the Lord and keep working.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You are great and awesome! Forgive us for the times we have let fear stop us from doing Your work. Help us to remember who You are and to find our courage in You. Strengthen our hands and hearts to serve You faithfully, protecting and blessing those You have entrusted to us. Help us to be strong, fearless, and steadfast until the work You have called us to is finished. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHEN MAY THE LORD BE FOUND?

From: August 12, 2024

“Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found” (Psalm 32:6 ESV).

David wrote of a time when his unconfessed sin weighed heavy on him. He finally decided to stop trying to hide his iniquity and to confess his sins to the Lord. When he did, the Lord heard his prayer and forgave him. Experiencing the Lord’s forgiveness himself, David urged all those who believed to pray while the Lord “may be found.”

What did David mean by this phrase? Did he refer to a time when the Lord would hide from our prayers? No, this does not seem to be David’s point. The idea seems to be that we should confess our sins and pray for forgiveness while such grace is available. For there is a day coming when it will be too late. For no one knows the day of their death, nor the Day of Christ’s return. Therefore, pray while grace may still be found.

Another point we may take from David’s phrase is that there is a time when our hearts are tender and open to repentance. It is at such a “time” that we can find God’s grace and mercy. For He looks on the heart. And every time we feel His hand weighing heavy on us to turn to Him, yet we refuse and continue to hide our sins, our hearts harden towards God. Finally, the heart becomes calloused to the things of God and closed to his grace and mercy. The timing has more to do with our hearts, than God’s.

Therefore, let us humble ourselves and pray. For “now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:20).

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You have not hidden Yourself from us, but have freely sent Your Son Jesus to us that we might be found. Examine our hearts and reveal to us any place that we are not fully committed to You. Strengthen us to walk in Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHOSE PATH DO YOU FOLLOW?

From: August 12, 2023

‘The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you”‘ (Psalm 32:8 NLT).

David reminds us in this psalm that the Lord offers to lead, guide, and direct us. He says don’t be like a mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control. Decide to willingly follow the Lord and to keep in step with Him by faith. For the Lord loves us and His will and path are best for us.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for loving us. Lead, guide, and direct us today. Strengthen us to follow Your Son, Jesus, all the days of our life. In His name we pray, amen.

“Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions” (1 Corinthians 7:30 NLT).

From: August 12, 2022

DON’T BE ABSORBED BY TEMPORARY CONDITIONS

Are you weeping over a loss today? Be mindful that the Lord will soon wipe away every tear (Rev. 21:4), turning your mourning into dancing (Psa. 30:11). Are you rejoicing in your blessings today? Wonderful. Yet, let the One who blesses be the focus of your joy, rather than being overly enamored of the blessings themselves. Have you acquired possessions that make life easier and more beautiful? Be careful. For your possessions may seek to possess you instead.

Don’t be absorbed by temporary conditions in this world, letting the concerns of this life dominate you. Instead, let Christ and His eternal kingdom be the focus of your life, so that you live to please God.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your many blessings. Forgive us when we focus on the blessings, rather than on You. Help us to live simply, so that we make room to focus on Your voice and direction in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You at a time that You may be found” (Psalm 32:6 HCSB).

From: August 12, 2021

WHEN MAY THE LORD BE FOUND?

David wrote of a time when his unconfessed sin weighed heavy on him. He finally decided to stop trying to hide his iniquity and to confess his sins to the Lord. When he did, the Lord heard his prayer and forgave him. Experiencing the Lord’s forgiveness himself, David urged all those who believed to pray while the Lord “may be found.”

What did David mean by this phrase? Did he refer to a time when the Lord would hide from our prayers? No, this does not seem to be David’s point. The point seems to be that we should confess our sins and pray for forgiveness while such grace is still available. For there is a day coming when it will be too late. For no one knows the day of their death, nor the Day of Christ’s return. Therefore, pray while grace can still be found.

Another point we may take from David’s phrase is that there is a time when our hearts are tender and open to repentance. It is at such a “time” that we can “find” God’s grace and mercy. For He looks on the heart. And every time we feel His hand weighing heavy on us to turn to Him, yet we refuse and continue to hide our sins, our hearts harden towards God. Finally, the heart becomes calloused to the things of God and closed to his grace and mercy. The “timing” has more to do with our hearts, than God’s.

Therefore, let us humble ourselves and pray. For “now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:20).

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You have not hidden Yourself from us, but have freely sent Your Son Jesus to us that we might be found. Examine our hearts and reveal to us any place that we are not fully committed to You. Strengthen us to walk in Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (Nehemiah 4:14 NKJV).

From: August 12, 2020

NO FEAR. REMEMBER THE LORD. DEFEND YOUR FAMILY.

Nehemiah led a volunteer workforce to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem, while at the same time facing dissension from within and opposition from without. Yet, he challenged the people to remember two things: 1) Remember the awesome greatness of the God upon Whom you depend and 2) Realize that you will have to be ready to fight for your families according to His strength.

This is a good two-part reminder for us today. Remember the Lord and fearlessly fight for your families!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are surrounded by fear and fighting today. But we often fear and fight the wrong thing and with the wrong methods. We have decided not to fear anything, but You. For You are great and awesome! And our weapons of fighting are not of this world. Strengthen us to fight on our knees in prayer and to fight with our voices in gospel proclamation. You are our victory O Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 NLT).

From: August 12, 2019

PROSPERITY, POVERTY AND PATIENT PERSEVERANCE

This proverb teaches a proposition of success including its corollary, which leads to failure. The proposition is that “good planning and hard work lead to prosperity.” Notice that planning and work are further defined as “good” and “hard.” For there is certainly a thing called “bad” planning and “lazy” work. So, the one who would follow the proposition must pay careful attention to its detail. The Book of Proverbs is filled with further instruction on both good planning and hard work, so that the student of its wisdom can find more than adequate instruction. For instance, the one who would have good planning will seek the counsel of many (Prov. 11:14, 15:22) and remember that ultimately, it is God who determines our path, so He should always be consulted first (Prov. 16:1, 3, 9).

The corollary describes the path to poverty. And it is a well worn highway. “Hasty shortcuts” are the fashion of the day. For immediate gratification is today’s theme. No wonder poverty still remains in such a prosperous land. For the sin nature always seeks a shortcut, a get rich quick approach, a spin of the wheel, a lottery ticket that hits the jackpot. Yet, such an approach almost always ends in poverty.

Let us remember the apostle Paul’s Spirit inspired words, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3:23). For whatever is done by faith and for the Lord will prosper and last unto eternity.

PRAYER: Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We are often tempted to take short cuts, but help us to remember Your instruction to seek You in our plans and to work with all our hearts as unto You, with You empowering our effort. We give You this day and this week. Help us to work for You and through You and by You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions” (1 Corinthians 7:30 NLT).

From: August 12, 2018

DON’T BE ABSORBED BY TEMPORARY CONDITIONS

Are you weeping over a loss today? Be mindful that the Lord will soon wipe away every tear (Rev. 21:4), turning your mourning into dancing (Psa. 30:11). Are you rejoicing in your blessings today? Wonderful. Yet, let the One who blesses be the focus of your joy, rather than being overly enamored of the blessings themselves. Have you acquired possessions that make life easier and more beautiful? Be careful. For your possessions may seek to possess you instead. Don’t be absorbed by temporary conditions in this world. Instead, let Christ and His eternal kingdom be the focus of your life.

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long” (Psalm 32:3 ESV)

From: August 12, 2016

David described how he felt when he had unconfessed sin in his life. Keeping silent about the sin, he felt a sense of heaviness and separation from the Lord. He suffered a kind of spiritual arthritis in his bones, so that his prayers turned into groaning as he tried to bend his stiff knees before the Lord. Yet when he acknowledged his sin, the Lord forgave him. God’s steadfast love surrounded him. Why did he wait so long to confess? Why not admit the sin as soon as he felt the Spirit’s conviction? Why wait for the spiritual dryness and heaviness before crying out to the Lord?

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (Nehemiah 4:14 NKJV)

From: August 12, 2015

Nehemiah led a volunteer workforce to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem, while at the same time facing dissension from within and opposition from without. Yet, he challenged the people to remember two things: 1) Remember the awesome greatness of the God upon Whom you depend and 2) Realize that you will have to be ready to fight for your families according to His strength. This is a good two-part reminder for us today. Remember the Lord and fearlessly fight for your families!