Ready to Be Counted (Dec 6)
Esther has been elevated to queen
without her nationality discovered.
And Haman the villain also rises
to the top politically. His hatred for
the Jews burns hot when Mordecai
fails to pay homage to him. Haman
persuaded King Ahasuerus to issue
an edict for destruction for the
Jewish race. Now Queen Esther
is faced with a deadly decision.
Should she risk revealing her
nationality in an attempt to dissuade
the king? Or should she protect
her life and silently watch while
her countrymen are slaughtered?
Lord, we will Stand & Be Counted:
Haman approached King Xerxes
and said: There’s a certain people
scattered through all the provinces
of your empire who keep themselves
separate from everyone else.
Their laws are different… and they
refuse to obey the laws of the king.
So it is not in the king’s interest
to let them live (Esther 3:8-9).
Mordecai sent this reply to Esther:
Don’t think for a moment because
you’re in the palace you will escape
when all other Jews are killed. If you
Keep Quiet.. deliverance and relief
for the Jews will arise from some
other place, but you & your relatives
will die. Who knows you were made
queen for just such a time like this?
Then Esther… replied to Mordecai:
Go, gather together all the Jews…
and fast for me for three days. I and
my maids Will Fast as you do. When
this is done, I Will Go to the king,
even though it is against the law.
And If I Perish, I Perish (Est 4:13-16)
Lord, the path of righteousness may
require courageous identification
of being a part of Your people.
Give me courage I need to Identify Openly with You and Your cause.
Give me the extraordinary courage
it takes to be different even if it
means being rejected because
of Identification With You Lord.
Help me to trust You just as much
even when life is confusing. Amen.
Lord, show me when Your Spirit is
calling me to Put Aside everything
else in order to seek You; and give
me grace to respond to that call.
Give me the discipline I need to be
able to Follow Through and the faith
to know that You are able to deliver
in whatever circumstances I am in.
Make my heart obedient, as Esther
was in Seeking You, if needed above
personal needs and interest; for You
God always keep promises. Amen.
Lord, I pray You will help me to be
a person who has a Heart For You
and Your ways; and one who is
in the right place at the right time.
Enable me Lord as I Fast & Pray to
have a powerful effect on the world
around me by standing up for what
is right and following Your leading.
Make my prayers powerful enough
to encourage and enable the lives
of the people and the church. Amen