Day 5
Esther 4:15-16 “Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants 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.’”
Esther was about to make a request of the King to save the Jews from a national plot to kill them all. Even though she was the Queen, it was unlawful for her to approach the King without being summoned and it would force her to reveal that she, too, was a Jew. It was a terrifying assignment and thousands of lives were at stake.
Esther used her fast, and asked others to join her, to embolden and prepare herself to speak to the King. She sought God for three days. That seeking certainly included gaining wisdom from God on how to do the task, courage to overcome her fears, and peace as she laid her life on the line for her people.
This was not a three-day effort to earn God’s favor or to win over the rewards she would need to complete her task. This wasn’t a work that sought payment. It was, instead, an effort to align herself with God and to align her people with God. The only way she could fail was if God wanted her to fail. She placed her life in His hands - firmly.
Use today’s fasting to focus on aligning yourself with God in the battles that you are fighting. Lay your own agenda aside and seek to discern God’s agenda. Then join Him in His agenda and lay your life (or your pride, money, time, etc) in His hands. Ask others to use a portion of their fasting and prayer to seek God for you, if you have a big battle you are about to face. Remember, the goal is not to persuade Him, but to join Him.
Today, reflect on this:
What is the biggest risk you have ever taken for someone else?
What is the biggest risk you have ever taken for God?
What is one situation in life where you need to join God’s agenda and surrender your own?
Pray about that today - surrender your agenda and seek His.