Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for August 19

SLEEPLESS IN SUSA

From: August 19, 2025

“On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.” (Esther 6:1 ESV)

This verse marks the turning point of the entire book of Esther. Haman had just convinced the king to issue a decree to destroy the Jews, and Queen Esther had called for three days of fasting and prayer. On one of those very nights in the capital city of Susa, the mighty king of Persia couldn’t sleep. Hoping for relief, he asked for the royal records to be read aloud, likely expecting a cure for insomnia. Yet, of all the entries that could have been chosen, the reader opened to the record of Mordecai exposing a plot against the king. That forgotten act of loyalty, unrewarded until now, suddenly rose to the surface at just the right moment. Surely, this “coincidence” was no accident. Esther 6:1 is the hinge of the book, the place where God’s hidden hand is revealed through ordinary events. Though His name is not mentioned, His hand is unmistakable. What seemed like a sleepless night in Susa was in fact the unfolding of God’s purpose.

How often do we miss God’s activity because we label it coincidence? The king’s insomnia reminds us that nothing is random in God’s economy. He can use even a restless night, a delayed reward, or a chance conversation to accomplish His purposes. Like the Jews in Esther’s day, we may feel surrounded by forces too powerful for us. Yet while they prayed and fasted, God was at work behind the scenes. Do we trust Him enough to believe that He is working even when we cannot see Him? Will we see interruptions, delays, or sleepless nights as possible tools of His grace?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for working all things together for good, even when we cannot see Your hand. Teach us to trust Your timing and providence. Help us not to dismiss moments as coincidence, but to recognize them as evidence of Your unseen care. May we rest in the assurance that You are always at work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

From: August 19, 2024

“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV).

Esther, whose name means, “star,” won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her relative, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose for her new position.

Some time later, although she was afraid, she asked her people to fast and pray for three days, after which she went before the king to make an appeal. She told the king of an evil conspiracy an official named Haman had put into motion against the Jews. The Lord gave her favor with the king and wicked Haman was executed and her people rescued.

When God elevates us to a new job or position, we should consider how the Lord wants to use our new influence. “Who knows?” Perhaps God put you just where you are today, so that you might tell someone about the One who can rescue them from sin and death. Perhaps you were put in this very position for this very time that you might fulfill God’s purpose.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we don’t understand the times in which we live. Help us to see our purpose in this time. And strengthen us to carry out faithfully the calling You have given us for this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.

HAS GOD GIVEN THE LOCAL CHURCH ALL IT NEEDS?

From: August 19, 2023

“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20 NLT).

It is the Lord that gives out spiritual gifts to those who have believed and received Jesus. He gives them to each according to His will, so that the local church has every spiritual gift it needs to function and fulfill His commission. Yet, many churches seem to limp along as if missing some key part. As a result, little growth is seen, disunity prevails, and members fail to care for one another.

Has the Lord, who has “put the body together” (24), failed to give the church a necessary gift? Certainly not. The problem is that many members of the body are not putting their spiritual gifting to use in the church. Some because of ignorance or immaturity. Others because of a lack of spiritual zeal or some distracting or disabling sin area.

Church members often come to the pastor suggesting the church needs this missing ministry or that unmet service. Could it be that the person who saw the need is the one that the Lord has gifted and called to fulfill it? After all, the church is us! It’s the people, not the steeple! If the church is missing something, could it be because someone in the church isn’t exercising the gift and calling God gave them?

Do you know why the Lord has put you in the local body of Christ? Are you fulfilling His purpose for your life in a way that makes for harmony in the church and cares for others? If the church is missing some ministry, could it be because you are not exercising the gift and called God has given you?

PRAYER: Dear Father, You have saved us and adopted us into Your family, so that we are one body. And You have gifted each of us as members of Christ’s body with certain important functions. Help us to work together for Your purpose, being empowered by Your Spirit to carry out the calling You have on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NLT).

From: August 19, 2022

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Esther, whose name means, “star,” won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her relative, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose for her new position.

When God elevates us to a new job or position, we should always consider how the Lord wants to use our new influence. “Who knows?” Perhaps God put you just where you are today, so that you might tell someone about the One who can rescue them from sin and death.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we don’t understand the times in which we live. Help us to see our purpose in this time. And strengthen us to carry out faithfully the calling You have given us for this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted” (1 Corinthians 12:18 HCSB).

From: August 19, 2021

IS EVERY SPIRITUAL GIFT PRESENT IN THE LOCAL CHURCH?

It is the Lord that gives out spiritual gifts to those who have believed and received Jesus. He gives them to each according to His will, so that the local church has every spiritual gift it needs to function and fulfill His commission. Yet, many churches seem to limp along as if missing some key part. As a result, little harmony is seen, disunity prevails, and members fail to care for one another.

Has the Lord, who has “put the body together” (24), failed to give the church a necessary gift? Certainly not. The problem is that many members of the body are not putting their spiritual gifting to use in the church. Some because of ignorance or immaturity. Others because of a lack of spiritual zeal or some distracting or disabling sin area.

Church members often come to the pastor suggesting the church needs this missing ministry or that unmet service. Could it be that the person who saw the need is the one that the Lord has gifted and called to fulfill it? After all, the church is us! It’s the people, not the steeple! If the church is missing something, isn’t it because someone in the church isn’t exercising the gift and calling God gave them?

Do you know why the Lord has put you in the local body of Christ? Are you fulfilling His purpose for your life in a way that makes for harmony in the church and cares for others? If the church is missing some ministry, perhaps it’s because you are not answering His call to that ministry.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You have saved us and adopted us into Your family, so that we are one body. And You have gifted each of us as members of Christ’s body with certain important functions. Help us to work together for Your purpose, being empowered by Your Spirit to carry out the calling You have on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NKJV).

From: August 19, 2020

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Esther won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose for her new position.

When God elevates us to a new job or position, we should always consider how we might use it as a platform for doing His will. “Who knows?” Perhaps God put you just where you are today, so that you might tell someone about the One who can rescue them from sin and death.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we don’t understand the times in which we live. Help us to see our purpose in this time. And strengthen us to carry out faithfully the calling You have given us for this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21 NLT).

From: August 19, 2019

THE PURSUIT THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN SATISFY

The wisdom God gave to Solomon revealed what one must pursue to find life, righteousness and honor. There appear to be two pursuits, yet they are really one. For righteousness and unfailing love are found only in Christ. Many have tried to pursue righteousness by human effort, but it can only be received by faith in Christ. And many have hoped after God’s unfailing love and mercy after failing at works righteousness. But such mercy is only found by receiving the gift of God, which is Christ the Lord.

Ironically, life and honor are not found in their pursuit, but in answering the call to follow Jesus. For the one who seeks to save his life will lost it, but the one denies his life to follow Jesus, will save it (Matt. 16:24-25). And the one who seeks to honor himself, the Lord will humble, but the one who humbles himself to follow, the Lord will honor (James 4:10).

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the gift of righteousness and unfailing love found in Jesus. Help us this day to walk by Your Spirit. Bless us this day with the grace of Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Spirit. We want to follow You in all that we do and say today. In Christ’s wonderful name, amen.

“So God has put the body together… This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:25 NLT).

From: August 19, 2018

EVERY SPIRITUAL GIFT NEEDED IS PRESENT IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

It is the Lord that gives out spiritual gifts to those who have believed and received Jesus. He gives them to each according to His will, so that the local church has every spiritual gift it needs to function and fulfill His commission. Yet, many churches seem to limp along as if missing some key part. As a result, little harmony is seen, disunity prevails, and members fail to care for one another.

Has the Lord, who has “put the body together,” failed to give the church a necessary gift? Certainly not. The problem is that many members of the body are not putting their spiritual gifting to use in the church. Some because of ignorance or immaturity. Others because of a lack of spiritual zeal or some distracting or disabling sin area.

Church members often come to the pastor suggesting the church needs this missing ministry or that unmet service. Could it be that the person who saw the need is the one that the Lord has gifted and called to fulfill it? After all, the church is us! It’s the people, not the steeple! If the church is missing something, isn’t it because someone in the church isn’t being the member of the body that God called them to be?

Do you know why the Lord has put you in the local body of Christ? Are you fulfilling His purpose for your life in a way that makes for harmony in the church and cares for others? If the church is missing some ministry, perhaps it’s because you are not answering His call.

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 36:7 NKJV).

From: August 19, 2017

The word “lovingkindness” is the English translation of the Hebrew word “chesed.” It might be translated variously as “covenant love, steadfast love, loyal love, unfailing love,” etc. It is essentially the equivalent of the New Testament Greek word, “agape.” And as the psalmist wrote, God’s love is “precious.” It is this amazing character trait of God that moved Him to send His son, Jesus to die in our place. As Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son…” (John 3:16). God “so loved.” It is this love of God that moves us to put our trust in Him. Like chicks under the wings of a mother hen, we hide in the shadow of His loving salvation. Listen to the heart cry of Jesus over the city of His people who would not respond to His love, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Luke 13:34).

Are you willing to put your trust in the lovingkindness of God?

“On that night the king could not sleep…” (Esther 6:1 ESV)

From: August 19, 2016

When the evil Haman convinced the king of Persia to issue a decree to annihilate the Jews, Queen Esther asked her fellow Jews to fast and pray for three days. One night during this time of prayer and fasting, the king couldn’t sleep. He asked his servants to bring his book of chronicles and memorable deeds and read them to him. Perhaps he hoped to fall asleep to their bedtime reading. However, the section they read reminded him of how Esther’s relative Mordecai had helped save him from an assassination conspiracy. This led to him honoring Mordecai and eventually, hanging Haman. What a coincidence that the king’s insomnia led to reading the exact report concerning Mordecai. This little book of Esther, which is notable in that it never mentions God, is filled with such “coincidences.” While God’s people fasted and prayed, He worked behind the scenes to move the king’s hand.