March 3 – Esther 1-2
Request: God, as I re-read Chapters 1-2 today and focus on Esther’s rise to royalty, reveal to me areas in my life that I may be holding back or not stepping into what you are asking me to step into because of fear or wanting to stay in my comfort zone.
Read: Esther 1-2
Record: Record a key verse and then write any new insights, thoughts, or questions that rise in this beginning part of Esther’s story.
Respond: Write a prayer responding to God about the verse you just read. Let’s not just pick a verse and move on. Let’s interact with God about it.
Question to Ponder: Is there something new God has been asking you to explore, dive deeper into, speak into, stand up to, get involved in? In what ways are you holding back because of fear?
My Ponder:
I’m currently learning to find my faith voice when it comes to posting on social media. I want to post more boldly about faith based things but find that I get hesitant because I don’t want any backlash. I justify by saying that I don’t want to offend anyone or push them further from God, but the reality is that most of the time, I’m just avoiding the conflict and backlash. I need to keep working on that.
My verse: Esther 2:15, “When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.”
My response: Lord, help me courageously find the voice and words you are asking me to share. Help me let go of the fear of backlash. Remind me that I am here to represent you and that what you want me to say is way more important than the approval or acceptance of others.
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Note to Bonnie: I, too, struggle with wanting people to approve and allowing that to dictate to me what I say – may God give both of us a holy courage and His Spirit’s discernment in what HE would have us say in different situations!
My verse: “Every day Mordecai would take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Esther and what was happening to her.” Esther 2:11
My ponder: I can’t imagine the pain Esther and Mordecai experienced at this time in their lives. To be forced to sleep with a stranger … and even worse, the absolute ruler of the land in which I lived where my loved one also lived … then after that one night perhaps never be touched again?? To lose the dream of having children and a loving husband who adored only me – and not a harem full of women? To have to live with other women competing for this king’s attention and not with my own people? I mean. horrible!
My response: Lord, You allow hard and sometimes awful things to happen to Your people! I know this, yet it’s still something that makes me cringe and shrink from in fear. Help me to trust that You have a purpose for the pain You allow. Help me to have courage when life hits me with an unexpected blow. Teach me to say, “Use me” and then to hold Your Big Hand and walk through it with You in faith …
I had planned to start this study yesterday, but did not leave time to read Esther 1-9. Glad that I have more time today to read the story and focus on chapters 1-9.
My verse: Esther 2:8 NLT As a result of the king’s decree, Esther along with many other women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care.
My response: Lord, even when it does not appear that you are working, you are. You had a plan in place and people to pull off that plan – if they were willing. You do not treat us as robots doing your bidding. Mordecai and Esther had to be willing to carry out their part in your plan. Lord, help me to be willing to join You working with you in whatever way you call.
Now that I have read through the commentary for the last two days, my ponderings are the role of prayer and fasting in God’s kingdom and how willing/unwilling I am to take the advice of others. I am headstrong and want to go my own way, which unfortunately is not always God’s way. So, as I go forward, I will be pondering how God is calling me to prayer and fasting and how I can surrender my will to His and take His trusted advise.
Oh Cheri – I loved reading your thoughts and your ponder and echo your desire to surrender more and trust His will over my own. I especially loved it when you said, Lord, even when it does not appear that you are working, you are. SO true. May we remember that next time things don’t go as planned – which is often the case!