“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” – (Isaiah, 43:19 ).
A longtime ago a whole nation of the Jews faced the threat of extermination. A highly placed court official, Haman, had great influence on the king, Xerxes, whom he sought to influence, for his wicked purpose. “If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them” (Esther 3:9) he urged. But there were two obstacles.
First, there was an official linked to the same nation, Mordecai, who, once he heard of the plot, knew he needed to persuade the king against. Fortunately, he had a while ago arranged an orphan girl, a cousin, he had adopted to be married to the king (Esther 2). So he called her and brought the matter to her attention, urging her to use her intimate relationship with the king to persuade him against (Esther 4).
Esther knew that the king was not an easy man. Sometime ago when a Queen Vashti, had refused his summons, he had banished her. Moreover, if someone went into the king’s presence without being summoned he would be put to death ( Esther 4:9).
Once this matter was brought before Esther, she decided before she went out to talk to King Xerxes, there was one thing she had to do first. She sent out a call to her people: “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 maids, will fast as you do. When it is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4: 15-16).
After that, Esther entered the king’s presence. Miraculously, the King’s heart immediately yielded towards her. “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half a kingdom, it will be given you” (Esther 5:3). To his grief, Herman’s wicked plot was laid bare before the king who then ordered that instead of the Jews, he is the one to be executed. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10).
What matter is troubling you? Like Esther, you too can take took time out, and cry out to Almighty God, who heard her pleas. However overwhelming is the situation the God of Esther can give you the breakthrough you need!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, I here cry out to you, that no matter the obstacle that stands in my way, you help me break through, and may the glory go to you, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
