Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for September 12

TRUSTING RATHER THAN TREMBLING

From: September 12, 2023

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4 NLT).

David knew what to do when he felt afraid. He had already decided in advance that when fear came, he would replace it with faith in God. When he felt afraid, he recalled God’s Word and praised God for it. When he felt afraid, he compared the size of his problem to the size of His God and shouted, “What can man do to me?”

We often seek to cope with our fear by denying it or running from it. But fear can be a helpful indicator to the believer. For it shows that we are facing something greater than ourselves, something beyond our control, something that could bring failure or harm to us. Fear, in this sense, is an opportunity for faith. It reveals to us that we have forgotten God, or that we have made Him too small in our thinking.

Take your fears to God. Name them to Him in prayer. Read His Word and see what He has to say about Your fears. Make a decision to have faith rather than fear. Following Christ does not mean that we will not ever be afraid. In fact, following Him often means that we will face fear more than ever before, as He leads us and stretches us beyond our comfort. Yet, following Him, we learn to trust rather than tremble.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your children and we are learning to overcome our fears by putting our faith in You. Today, we name those things that cause us fear and anxiety. We give them to You. Now we choose to walk by faith, knowing that You are able to make us stand. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root” (Isaiah 11:1 NLT).

From: September 12, 2022

ISAIAH’S PROPHECY CONFIRMED IN CHRIST JESUS

Isaiah prophesied God’s coming judgment on Israel and Judah. Yet, he also prophesied that though the tree of David’s throne would be chopped down, leaving only a “stump,” a “shoot” would grow out of it. This shoot would grow into a “new Branch,” which is Christ, the Son of David, the Son of God. Isaiah prophesied that this “Branch” would become the “Banner of Salvation” to all the world (Isa. 11:10).

Indeed, Christ is the Branch that bears fruit. For we that have believed in Christ have been grafted into this tree. As the apostle Paul said, “And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree” (Rom. 11:17).

God has confirmed the word of prophecy He gave through Isaiah in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a promise-making and a promise-keeping God. For You have kept every promise You have made. We especially thank You for the promised Branch, King Jesus. For without Him we would not be saved, nor able to have access to You as Your children. Yet, through Christ we have received all things. Lord, we now depend on Your promises for this day. Strengthen and guide us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4 HCSB).

From: September 12, 2021

TRUSTING INSTEAD OF TREMBLING

The psalmist knew what to do when he felt afraid. He had already decided in advance that when fear came, he would replace it with faith in God. When he felt afraid, he recalled God’s Word and praised God for it. When he felt afraid, he compared the size of his problem to the size of His God and shouted, “What can man do to me?”

We often seek to cope with our fear by denying it or running from it. But fear can be a helpful indicator to the believer. For it shows that we are facing something greater than ourselves, something beyond our control, something that could bring failure or harm to us. Fear, in this sense, is an opportunity for faith. It reveals to us that we have forgotten God, or that we have made Him too small in our thinking.

Take your fears to God. Name them to Him in prayer. Read His Word and see what He has to say about Your fears. Make a decision to have faith rather than fear. Following Christ does not mean that we will not ever be afraid. In fact, following Him often means that we will face fear more than ever before, as He leads us and stretches us beyond our comfort. Yet, following Him, we learn to trust rather than tremble.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your children and we are learning to overcome our fears by putting our faith in You. Today, we name those things that cause us fear and anxiety. We give them to You. Now we choose to walk by faith, knowing that You are able to make us stand. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4 NKJV).

From: September 12, 2020

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FEEL AFRAID?

The psalmist knew what to do when he felt afraid. He had already decided in advance that when fear came, he would replace it with faith in God. When he felt afraid, he recalled God’s Word and praised God for it. When he felt afraid, he compared the size of his problem to the size of His God and shouted, “What can flesh do to me?”

We often seek to cope with our fear by denying it or running from it. But fear can be a helpful indicator to the believer. For it shows that we are facing something greater than ourselves, something beyond our control, something that could bring failure or harm to us. Fear, in this sense, is an opportunity for faith. It reveals to us that we have forgotten God, or that we have made Him too small in our thinking.

Take your fears to God. Name them to Him in prayer. Read His Word and see what He has to say about Your fears. Make a decision to have faith rather than fear. Following Christ does not mean that we will not ever be afraid. In fact, following Him often means that we will face fear more than ever before, as He leads us and stretches us beyond our comfort. Yet, following Him, we learn to trust rather than tremble.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your children and we are learning to overcome our fears by putting our faith in You. Today, we name those things that cause us fear and anxiety. We give them to You. Now we choose to walk by faith, knowing that You are able to make us stand. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root” (Isaiah 11:1 NLT).

From: September 12, 2019

GOD CONFIRMED THIS PROPHECY IN CHRIST JESUS

Isaiah prophesied God’s judgment of Israel and Judah. Yet, he also prophesied that though the tree would be chopped down, leaving only a stump, there would be a shoot that would grow from the old root. This shoot would grow into a “new Branch,” which is Christ, the Son of David, the Son of God. This “Branch” would become the “Banner of Salvation” to all the world (Isa. 11:10). He is the Branch that bears fruit. We are grafted into this tree by adoption. Believing into His Name we receive God’s salvation and receive the right to become God’s children.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a promise-making and a promise-keeping God. For You have kept every promise You have made. We especially thank You for the promised Branch, King Jesus. For without Him we would not be saved, nor able to have access to You as Your children. Yet, through Christ we have received all things. Lord, we now depend on Your promises for this day. Strengthen and guide us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.” (2 Corinthians 12:20 NLT).

From: September 12, 2018

PAUL’S CONCERN. GOD’S CONCERN.

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians expressed his concern and desire for the church he had planted there. He was planning to visit them for the third time, but he had heard many worrisome things about how they had not given up their “old sins.” He didn’t want his future visit to be one of difficult discipline, but of joyful reunion. Because he loved them like a father, he was ready to do either, but preferred the latter.

I think we see something of the Father’s heart in Paul’s parental care for the Corinthians. I wonder. If we would receive a letter from Jesus today, would it express similar concern? Would Jesus warn us that he is coming soon, expressing His concern that He won’t like what He finds?

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10 NKJV).

From: September 12, 2017

Isaiah foresaw a day when a “Root of Jesse,” would come as Messiah. Jesse was King David’s father. And the “Root” is Jesus Christ. A root is the hidden source of life to a plant. In like manner, Jesus is both the preincarnate Son of God who is the source of all life, but also the One who became human, born into the line of Jesse, to be the Redeemer of life. God revealed to Isaiah that this “Root” would become a “banner” drawing all people, Jew and Gentile alike, to Him for rest. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy. As He said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

“In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11 ESV)

From: September 12, 2016

More than a motto on our money, this is a declaration of faith. Trust in God above all others. Written by the one who slew Goliath, it is not hyperbole, but a tested conclusion, i.e. “since God is greater than man (even giant ones), I will not fear man, because I trust in God.” Wherever there is fear, especially fear of man, there is lack of faith.

“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11 NKJV)

From: September 12, 2015

More than a motto to put on our money, this is a declaration of faith. Trust in God above all others. Written by the one who slew Goliath, it is not hyperbole, but a tested conclusion, i.e. “since God is greater than man (even giant ones), I will not fear man, because I trust in God.” Wherever there is fear, especially fear of man, there is lack of faith.

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root” (Isaiah 11:1 NLT)

From: September 12, 2014

Isaiah prophesied God’s judgment of Israel and Judah. Yet, he also prophesied that though the tree would be chopped down, leaving only a stump, there would be a shoot that would grow from the old root. This shoot would grow into a “new Branch,” which is Christ, the Son of David, the Son of God. This “Branch” would become the “Banner of Salvation” to all the world (Isa. 11:10). He is the Branch that bears fruit. We are grafted into this tree by adoption. Believing into His Name we receive God’s salvation and receive the right to become God’s children.