The women we’ve studied this week showed us that joy and praise can be part of our lives when we live surrendered to God through every situation. Actually, praise can be a catalyst for surrendering to God and being filled with His joy as ‘it’ [praise] keeps God at the forefront of our minds and hearts. Miriam led others to praise Him on the other side of the Red Sea and Leah praised Him despite her loveless marriage. Praise can also be the catalyst for others to praise God. This is what happened when the ‘women of Bethlehem’ saw how God had blessed Naomi with a grandson. When we live surrendered and follow God into battle for His people, as in the story of Deborah, praise will flow and joy will follow. When this happens others will see, as we did in the life of Mary of Bethany, who despite cultural norms and heartache chose to sit or fall or give her best in praise and adoration to the Lord – her Savior. There is much that can be learned from these beautiful stories. There is much we would do well to mimic. As with the others that we have read they are certainly worthy of reading and sharing again and again. If for no other reason they will undoubtedly spark praise and joy in our own hearts as they refocus us on the greatness of our God.
Life isn’t always easy so praising God isn’t always easy. Likewise, being joyful in all circumstances, as James suggested, is at best a challenge and at worst seemingly impossible. However, when we realize the key is maintaining a focus fixed on Him – past (what we’ve witnessed in the Scriptures or in our own lives), present (His fingerprints in our own lives and those we know), and future (His promises of His presence with us, constantly new mercies, and eternal life …) – we feed both praise and joy.
My dear brothers and sisters, consider it an opportunity for pure joy when you face trials of many kinds. For you know when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4
I have made this statement in previous weeks, but it bears repeating. Consider these stories and their truths often so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your eyes on Him and not the circumstances of Your life – only then will we truly surrender and say as Leah did, still in the midst of her loveless marriage, “Now I will praise the Lord!” As we saw again and again this week, the choice is ours. May we choose well – so that Jesus may say of us, “they chose the best part”.
“Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42 NET
If you missed any of this week’s devotions from me you’ll find them at this link
If you missed any of the Love God Greatly Blogs for week 5 you’ll find them at these links:
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
John 12:3 NLT
Observation: What’s the Story
Mary was continually found at the feet of Jesus. Read the passage again and watch as she sits at His feet listening to Him talk and teach. Look and listen as she falls at His feet weeping over the death of her brother. Then, take in the beauty of her extravagant act of celebration and worship of Jesus’s resurrection of Lazarus; she poured out the best of what she had onto His feet and and then wiped them with her hair. Her devotion to Jesus was quite clear in both her words and actions, even to the point of defying cultural norms.
Application: How Then Should We live?
Jesus told Martha that Mary had “chosen” the best part. So, since a favorable opinion from Christ is the best of everything we can hope for, we would be wise to choose as Mary did to sit at His feet, soaking up His Words as we listen to Him talk or teach. Likewise, we should not be afraid to fall at His feet in our sorrows weeping and sharing our thoughts or regrets with Him. Mary did this and Jesus was “intensely moved in spirit”, even to the point of weeping and calling Lazarus out of the grave! Lastly, by Mary’s example, we should be willing to pour out the best of ourselves at His feet in grateful adoration of who He is and what He’s done.
Prayer: Response to His Word
Father, thank You for showing us Mary’s heart and passion for Jesus, our Savior. Despite cultural norms and people’s opinions she desired to be “at Jesus’ feet”. Oh that we might choose well, as Christ said Mary did – letting nothing hold us back from being at His feet.
YOUR TURN: Set aside time to read and reflect on each of the passages
What’s your take away from the story about Mary of Bethany?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Her Actions spoke louder than words
Many people praise God with their words, but Mary of Bethany praised God through her actions.
Why do you think her actions “spoke” louder than any words she could have said?
What can you do to sit at His feet?
What sorrows or concerns do you have that would be better laid at His feet?
“Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the Lord. I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when you set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain. 5 The mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord, the God of Mount Sinai— in the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.
6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways. 7 There were few people left in the villages of Israel[b]— until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel. 8 When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel! 9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the Lord!
Judges 5:3-9
Observations:
The first part of the story is important in understanding and appreciating the victory, so let’s take a look…
The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight
The LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Canaan
The army’s general was Sisera
The Israelites cried out to the LORD for help because Sisera’s army was strong and he had cruelly oppressed them for twenty years
Meanwhile, God is working through a Prophetess named Deborah. Verse four says that she was leading Israel at the time of Sisera’s oppression of Israel. One day Deborah brought the commander of Israel’s army to her and reminded him what God had called him to do, which was to go to battle against Sisera and Jabin’s army. Deborah encouraged his obedience by promising her help (6-9). When Barak agreed she made sure he understood that while the victory would belong to Israel, he would not be the one gaining fame. She explained that the LORD would turn Sisera over to a woman, which is exactly what happened (14-24).
The Victory Song
Deborah’s song of praise that she sang with Barak did not focus on HOW the victory humanly took place, nor on who the “people were” that brought down the enemies – BUT on God alone! It was specific to what God had done and how He had used Deborah as a motherly protector in Israel.
How Then Should We Live?
We may not sit in a judge’s seat or rule God’s people from under a tree but we would be right to encourage others to do what God has called them to do, as Deborah did with Barak. The author of Hebrews said that we must encourage one another daily so that no one becomes hardened by sins deceitfulness.
We would also be right and wise to sing a victory praise song to celebrate God’s goodness, focusing the praise on Him and what He did.
But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.
Hebrews 3:13 CSB
Prayer Response:
Father – victory is ours through Jesus Christ! May we be quick to sing Your praises – specific to what you’ve done and always focused on You. – AMEN!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from Deborah’s story?
Reflection Questions:
Deborah praised God in the midst of battle.
Why is this important for us to do as well?
Why is it important to remember how God has fought on our behalf?
Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”
Ruth 4:14-15
Observations:
While I’ve always loved Ruth’s story and have seen God’s hand of providence in it – I somehow saw it all the more sweetly reading through it this time. I noticed with fresh eyes how God used it all – the famine, the move from Bethlehem to Moab, the marriage of Elimelech’s sons to Moabite women, the deaths of Elimelech and his sons, and the decision of Ruth -(not by cultural norms but by her heart – Ruth 1:16-18) to leave Moab and go to Bethlehem with Naomi. God used all of it to accomplish what was good for those who loved Him and were called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28.
As I reread the story of Ruth chapter 4, of Boaz approaching and dealing with the rightful heir to Elimelech’s property, I saw something I hadn’t seen before – or at least understood it in a fresh way. Boaz looked at the whole picture and was wise enough to share that picture – well, at least the part he chose to share – with the rightful “kinsman-redeemer,” and because of this – Boaz “acquired the inheritance” and was able to make Ruth his wife, who the LORD enabled to conceive and give birth to a son. They named him Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David – the ancestors of our Lord and Savior!
We will not truly or adequately give praise for that which we do not adequately recognize as being from God.
Me, from the inside-out – 2022
The Village Women
So Ruth was given a son, and the women of the village of Bethlehem praised the LORD for not leaving Naomi without a guardian, saying – “a son has been born to Naomi.” They also acknowledged Ruth as a blessing to Naomi, recognizing her as better than seven sons. From the depths of bitterness and despair, God brought joy, contentment, and praise!
How, Then, Should We Live?
I believe from the women of the village we can learn at least three things …
We should direct our praise to the LORD – not just for what He does in our life but for what He does in the lives of others.
We should pray over the blessings He bestows and believe in advance how He will use the gift.
We should speak encouragement to those He blesses.
Perhaps even more beneficial, though, is what we can learn from Boaz.
Look at the big picture and act with wisdom from God.
We will miss the beauty of God’s tapestry if our focus is on us and not God.
Abundant praise will flow from the lips of the one who watches Him.
Prayer Response:
Oh, Father, help me not to get caught up watching for You to work in or through me – such a singular vision can be blinding to what You are doing locally, globally, and in the lives of those I know and love. Such a singular vision stunts our praise and more. I also confess it is easy to say a quick “praise God” and keep going – but thank You for this picture of lingering and even praying over the “blessing” and also for the reminder to give You praise not only for what You do in our own lives but for what You do for others – and to be specific not flippant or vague.
Your Turn:
What’s your takeaway from this portion of Ruth’s story?
Reflection Questions:
The village women recognized God’s hand in Ruth’s and Naomi’s lives.
Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. And Miriam sang this song:
“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.”
Exodus 15:20-21
Observations:
Remember, from our earlier encounter with Moses’ mother, Miriam is Moses’ sister. She is the same one who watched to make sure he was safe after their mother put Moses in the river. We learn here that she was a prophetess, which simply means she was a woman who spoke about/for God. As we see here she was also one who encouraged or exhorted people with words of praise, telling or singing what He had done for His people.
How Then Should We Live?
Without question we should praise God for what He does, making sure to stay focused on Him and what He has done. When we lose sight of these details and His role in our life and the world around us we put ourselves in jeopardy of forgetting what He’s done. The danger in this is then we will fail to give Him the praise that He is worthy of. We should follow the example of Miriam who sang praises. Not only did she sing with Moses and the Israelites but she reverberated the praise the others had given – she kept the praise going – which is exactly what we should be in the habit of doing.
Remember the old song from the 70’s, “Pass It On”? Verse one went like this:
“It only takes a spark to get a fire going, And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing; That’s how it is with God’s Love, Once you’ve experienced it, Your spread the love to everyone You want to pass it on.”
It’s that first line that came to mind as I was writing this. In today’s passage we read “Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD ….” Then in our focus verses we read that Miriam sang in response to what had been sung … someone started the song and when they had finished she kept it going. Praise is contagious!
Background NOTE:
Our passage starts out with the word, “then”, meaning what’s about to happen – happened because of what came before it. In this case – what prompted the praise song. According to what we read in chapter 14 they are singing praises to God because He has just delivered them through The Red Sea – on dry ground – and then watched as God released the water, bringing it crashing down on the Egyptian Army that was pursing them. Certainly worthy of the praise they gave!
Prayer Response:
Father, all praise and glory are due Your Name! May praise continually flow from my lips and may my life bring You glory. May I be alert to Your work in and around me. May I not lose sight of what You do and what You have taught. For You are worthy O God of continual praise and honor – Let my lips, as the Psalmist said – glorify You forever! Amen!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from Miriam’s story?
Reflection Questions:
Miriam led the Israelite women with singing and praised God for the miracle He performed in Exodus 15.
In the coming week (week 5), we will look at what it means to be “Women of Joy and Praise”. We will build on knowing that God loves, sees, and cherishes women, and continue to focus on the fact that faith and prayer play a huge part in our surrender and sacrifice that is required of those who follow Jesus.
Our focus/memory verse is found in Psalm 34:1 – I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. It’s a lovely example of the praises we will read in the stories we read this week as we continue our journey through the word, discovering “God’s heart for His daughters”.
This Week’s Challenge from the team at Love God Greatly:
Who in your life have you seen fight for joy and praise God in the midst of hard times? Make a point this week to encourage her and share what you have seen in her life and how it has impacted you.
The women we’ve studied this week revealed stories and lives of surrender in the face of many different situations. Mary, a virgin, surrendered to the unexpected and unbelievable news that she was pregnant. Abigail and Esther both faced incredible danger and possible death and yet with eyes on God they showed us both courage and humility in the way they responded to their specific challenges. While Moses’ mother and the poor widow shared vastly different stories they both revealed not only courage but great faith in God and selfless love. There is much that can be learned from these beautiful stories. They are worthy of reading to ourselves, our children, or our grandchildren many times throughout the year. Lest we forget how God works miracles and blesses those who, by faith, follow Him even though it may mean danger or sacrificing their desires for His.
Trusting God isn’t always easy. He allows things in and around us that don’t make sense and that often cause us to wonder where He is. However, as we see through each of these women and those we have studied before them – He is faithful, loving, protective, kind, compassionate, understanding, and purposeful in His care for us.
Consider these stories and their truths often so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your eyes on Him and not the circumstances of Your life and surrender, even as Christ did in the garden, saying, “Not my will but yours be done”, or as Mary said to Gabriel, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me according to your word”.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 HCSB
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 NLT
If you missed any of this week’s devotions from me you’ll find them at this link
If you missed any of the Love God Greatly Blogs for week 4 you’ll find them at these links:
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44 NLT
Observations:
In the “making of disciples” Jesus didn’t always stand and preach but instead used real life situations to show and tell/teach them how to live. He observed people and events and used them as teachable moments. His observations of the poor widows gift was an opportunity to teach them about the real importance of giving an offering and the judgment that should and shouldn’t be made.
It’s important to note that Jesus wasn’t teaching that the wealthy should not give or that the poor should give all they have. Rather, He was pointing out how they gave – the wealthy gave out of their wealth, in other words not from what they needed but from what was left over – meaning it cost them nothing. The widow, however, gave out of her poverty or more specifically what she had to live on. Her offering cost her everything and it was her gift that Jesus pointed out as the greater gift. Again, not because it was monetarily more but because of what it cost her.
How Then Should We Live?
We should live as the ‘poor widow’, giving not out of what we have left over – but from what we need to live on. Did she have to give it all? No, I don’t think so, for Jesus didn’t use the moment to teach that “she gave what was expected” but rather that her two coins were more than all that the wealthy had given. This type of giving requires faith and surrender in every way. Give from the heart, give as the Lord leads you to give, and let whatever you give be a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Lord.
I think this is a good lesson for examining not only what we give but why we give, making sure that our gifts are acts of the heart rather than habit – as though we are paying a monthly bill.We must not see God as a debt collector but as the One who, by grace1, paid our debt2.He paid our sin-debt with the life of His son; and this was a free gift, one given out of His love3, not as a reward for something we had done1. When we see God as the extravagant gift giver that He is, we will give as the widow, not as though we could ever repay Him – but out of hearts of love – a love born out thankfulness and adoration for who is, what He has done, and what He’s promised to those who believe.
1Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
2Romans 3:23, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. and Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
3John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Prayer Response:
Father, Giver of life and love, of provisions and grace and endless mercies – You clearly give from the heart as is evident in the gift of Your Son. May we be so generous and purposeful in our own giving. And may each gift bring You pleasure and glory and be useful in drawing others to You – in His Name, Amen!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from the poor widow’s story?
Reflection Questions:
The poor widow in Mark 12 gave everything she had:
Why did her sacrifice mean so much?
What did her giving reveal about her heart and her faith in God?
Want More?
Visit Love God Greatly for their Friday Blog and while you’re there check out the details on our next study.
But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.
Exodus 2:3 NLT
Observations:
Background
Chapter 1 tells how the Israelites were multiplying and their numbers posed a threat to the Egyptians and to their ruler, Pharaoh. He saw them as such a threat that he ordered all baby boys to be killed, first by mid-wives and when that didn’t work – he ordered them to be thrown into the Nile. It was during this time that Moses’ mother became pregnant.
We know from our reading, 2:1-10, that Moses was born to descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe. While this may not be crucial to today’s story, it will be an important part of Moses’ life in the years to come and is yet another picture of God’s perfect design and how He is always working behind the scenes of our lives.
Steps of Faith
What is important to today’s story of Moses’ mother are the steps she took to save the life of her son. She hid him for three months, she made a safe boat for him, she placed it carefully in the Nile, in a way that it would be hidden, and yet noticeable to someone who might stop to bathe along the river’s edge. Read the passage carefully and see others that God used in Moses’ rescue story, from the mid-wives who secretly refused to kill the babies as ordered, to his sister Miriam who played look-out once he was in the river and ensured that their mother would be the nurse maid, and of course, Pharaoh’s daughter who was moved with compassion to keep the child. They were all instruments strategically placed and moved by faith, love, or compassion to act on Moses’ behalf.
How Then Should We Live?
Act in faith. Throughout of of Scripture this is the lesson. Paul summarized it very well when he told the Corinthians, “For we walk [live, act, respond …] by faith and not by sight, 1 Corinthians 5:7. When things look hopeless and mandates loom around us that affect the general population, ourselves/jobs, or those we love – we must not lose hope but do what we know is right in God’s eyes and trust Him with the outcome.
From where we are positioned we must stay alert and act timely and wisely as opportunity presents and God leads. We would also be wise to remember that while Pharaoh’s daughter may not have been one of God’s children, He still used her in positioning Moses right where He wanted him. As Paul said in Romans 8:28, and I believe is applicable here – “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” There is much comfort to be found in this truth when we find ourselves in the place of Jochebed, Moses’s mother, having to trust God in such an unthinkable and heart-wrenching situation.
Prayer Response:
Father, even when situations seem hopeless – even when man’s edicts put us or those we love in danger or in situations that go against our faith – help us to act in unwavering faith on what is good and right. Help us to keep our eyes on You – to trust You and give You praise in all things – You have given us Your Spirit for this purpose. All to Your glory-amen
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from Esther’s story?
Reflection Questions:
Moses’ mother was faced with a horrible decision.
How did her surrender and sacrifice play into her determination to save the life of her son?
“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
Esther 4:16 NLT
Observations:
Esther’s Background
To quote the commentary on Esther from Gotquestions.org, “Esther is the Jewish maiden who became queen of Persia and rescued her people from a murderous plot to annihilate them.” Esther’s full story, filled with drama, intrigue, and more, is found in the Book of Esther. It is a story worth reading at least once a year, as a reminder of God’s mercy and grace to His people and how He positions and uses the least expected people in the unfolding of His plan. If you aren’t familiar with Esther’s story, or if it’s been a while since you’ve read it, I suggest reading at least the first three chapters prior to chapter 4 so that you can fully appreciate and learn from Esther’s faith and surrender in today’s lesson.
Esther’s family was from the Tribe of Benjamin, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. According to verse six of Esther, chapter 2 her family had been among those who had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. It’s in that same chapter that we read, “When her father and mother died, Mordecai {Esther’s older cousin] adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.”
Following a somewhat scandalous event at the palace the King gave the order that the current Queen, Vashti, be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.
As a result of the King’s decree, Esther (who is described in chapter 2 as both beautiful and lovely), along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care. Verse 9 of chapter 2 says that Hegai, [the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem], was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
Important to note is that no one in the palace knew about Esther’s nationality and family background because Mordecai had directed her not to tell anyone. While some may question Mordecai’s instructions, it is easy to see how God used Esther’s silence about the matter.
Today’s Story
While no one in the palace knew Esther’s true identity, she knew and outside the place walls Mordecai knew and thus our story today. God used them both as examples of faith and heroes of His people.
Mordecai, heartbroken and distraught over the pending destruction of the Jews. I’m telling you – you have to read the story to know how Mordecai even knew what was happening. But, what we see here is that he did know and he makes it known to Esther, and instructs her not just to help – but to do so at the risk of her own life. She resists at first, making Mordecai aware that on penalty of death she could not go uninvited into the presence of the King. Mordecai responds with perhaps one of my favorite passage in the book of Esther:
Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 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 if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
Esther 4:13-16
Mordecai didn’t walk away throwing up his hands – with an ‘I’ve done everything I can do’ attitude; nor did he say he understood Esther’s concern, instead he painted the whole picture for Esther, which, by Esther’s responses, was exactly what she needed to hear. She surrendered to the instructions with one condition or stipulation that she would first fast, in this case, according to gotquestions.org commentary, the fast would be associated with seeking God in conjunction with passionate prayer1. She also charged Mordecai and the rest of the Jews to join her in the fast for three nights and days. “Afterward”, she said, “I will go to the king, even though it violates the law.” Surely this is a picture of being beautifully surrendered.
Esther was living outside of her element. She was taken away from her people to a palace, put on display for the King, given a regimen and diet that were not customary for her. We may think – wow! if only someone would pick me up and place me in a palace, give me maids, and spa treatments – what’s not to love about that- right? Well, obviously whether she was enjoying it or not isn’t the question – perhaps she was – there’s certainly nothing wrong with enjoying where God has placed us. However, we must not lose focus of who we are and what we are meant for. In the middle of it all she was reminded by Mordecai of who and whose she was, where she came from, and made to see or at least consider that perhaps her royal status was meant for more than her enjoyment … perhaps it was meant for the salvation of her people. Which is exactly what we know from Scripture – this side of the story.
Mordecai’s faith was evident in that he knew that should Esther pass up the opportunity to speak for her people, God would send freedom and protection for the Jews by some other means. Esther’s faith was evident in not only being willing to “face death” should that be the case but also in putting God first through fasting and prayer and engaging her people to do the same, undoubtedly meaning for all of them to use the time calling out to Him on her behalf.
We would be wise, like Mordecai, to be one who encourages others with the truth rather than encourage or uphold their fears. We would be wise, if like Esther, we pray for and strive for such mindsets of faith that lead us to surrender.
It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!
Esther 4:14b NET
Prayer Response:
Father, how beautiful and challenging is the story of Esther. Beautiful in the fact that regardless of who we are or where we are You can pick us up and place us where You want us to be, so that we are positioned for Your work. The story is equally daunting though, knowing that where you place us may come with greater responsibility than we could have ever imagined or wanted. Help us live as Esther did, turning to You in our fears and willing to surrender – even in the face of death. Help us to stay focused like Mordecai did – keeping You always as our perspective and willing to encourage others with the truth – for Your glory and the salvation of Your people.
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from Esther’s story?
Reflection Questions:
Esther was faced with a hard decision, risk her life or the lives of her people.
How do her actions in Esther 4 reveal her strength?
Me From the Inside Out 