Trust God for Favor Esther Chapters 1-2
The Book of Esther in the Old Testament is a story of how the Jewish people were saved from annihilation while they were living in Persia (now known as Iran around 483BC). Although the Jews were foreigners, they still maintained their culture and kept their faith and worship of God.
During this time the Persian King Ahasuerus was very powerful and wealthy. He reigned over 127 provinces from India to North Africa. During the third year of his reign, the king wanted to show off the splendor of his kingdom, his wealth, and riches to all of his noblemen, officials, and princes of his provinces. It took six months and after that, he hosted a great seven-day feast with royal wine flowing in abundance. At the same time, his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti, entertained the wives and women in her own palace. On the seventh day when the king had plenty to drink he wanted to show off his beautiful wife and ordered her to appear before him and all of his guests. She was to wear her royal crown, and most likely not anything else. The queen refused and the king was very angry and humiliated before all of his guests. To punish her he took away her royal position and said he would replace her with someone else.
An order was made to gather the most beautiful virgins who would undergo a 12-month beauty preparation before meeting the king. Each would have a turn to be presented to the king for him to choose a new queen. One of those was an orphaned Jewish girl by the Persian name of Esther whose guardian was her Uncle Mordecai. Mordecai instructed her to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Esther was beautiful and God gave her favor. The head of the women, Hegai, favored Esther and gave her the best place to stay and gave her seven of the best handmaids to help her. She was given daily beauty treatments and instructed in the royal ways. When it became Esther's turn, she could pick anything she wanted to wear and how she wanted to look. Being wise she asked Hegai for his advice and followed what he recommended. She was delivered in the evening and was to return in the morning. The king fell in love with her and crowned her as his new queen.
Although an orphan, Esther was obedient to her Uncle and found favor with those she was around. She sought the wisdom of others (Hegai) and followed instructions. God gives us favor no matter our humble beginnings. Claim God’s favor over your life and allow Him to elevate you to new heights.
For You O Lord will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround me as with a shield.
Psalm 5:12
Personal Development Tip Of The Week: “Take 10”
I challenge you this week to take 10 minutes every morning before you start your day to be with God. This could be sitting silent praying or speaking out loud (my favorite!) with God.
Praying has had such a profound impact on my life and if you start your morning right you set yourself up to have a great day.
Take 10 each morning before you start your day and spend it with God. If you don’t feel like praying, read a couple of pages in the bible, watch something on YouTube, challenge yourself to spend the first parts of your day with the lord in whatever way feels right with you.
We have to remember this is a relationship and a relationship takes time and effort.
Prayer for the week:
Dear Heavenly Father, as the holidays come to an end I ask you to be with us as we get back to our normal routines. Help us find time to be grateful like we are during holiday times. I ask you lord to help us not try to lean on our own understanding of things but to seek you first and the kingdom of God in all that we do because with you all things are possible. Bless us to have a great week lord, bless us to do everything we need to do to show up and be our best. I ask your lord to help us find strength in the challenges we will be faced with and to always remember with you, all things are possible. I am praying for a breakthrough this week lord, blessings this week lord, and peace that passes all understanding in Jesus name I claim Amen!
-Dayne
PS: If you would like more tools and resources to help you get closer to God consider checking out our New 31 Day Devotional Prayer Journal available at https://bit.ly/352QxAk
Trust God For Favor: Esther