Ready to Be Counted (July 23)
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:
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 at a time like this,
deliverance and relief for the Jews
will arise from some other place,
but you and your relatives will die.
Who knows you were made queen
for just such a time like this?…..
Go, gather together all the Jews…
and fast for me. Do not eat or drink
for three days, night or day. 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 to witness Esther’s courageous
Identification with You & Your people
causes me to look at my own life.
I must ask of myself if I have been
this bold and committed to being
a part of Your people. Give me the
courage I need to Identify Openly
with You and Your cause. And
give me the extraordinary courage
it takes to be different even if it
means being rejected because of
Identification With You Lord. 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 for
whom I pray. In Jesus’ name, 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.