“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”- (Esther 4:16).
Usually during crisis times, believers are urgee to take time out for prayer and fasting. Like it was at the height of Covid- 19 pandemic which is raging like a wild fire here. Perhaps one may wonder why!
Prayer and fasting have long been part of the believers life, a potent weapon through turbulent times. As in our leading verse, when the Jews were being threatened with extermination, the key to fight this pending doom was with King Xerxes (Esther 3). It was forbidden to see His Majesty, unless upon being summoned. Something miraculous had to happen, for him to change his mind. But there was an obstacle. “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death ..” ( Esther 4:11). This law extended even to Queen Esther.
Now Esther, decided not to believe in what the law said, appealing to the most High God, instead. Having asked for prayers and fasting, she said, “When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” ( vv 16). And once in his presence, her prayers unlocked the gate. The king, then put aside the law, opened up his heart, and, “asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. ..” ( Esther 5:6).
At the beginning of the church, with Christians being faced with persecution, Peter was arrested by King Herod, where he was “guarded by four squads of four soldiers each” ( Acts 12:4). Against this might of force, the church could have fearfully given in. Instead, while “Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” ( vv 5).
Something miraculous then happened. “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord …struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists” ( vv 6-7).
Against what appears to be impossible situations, through prayer and fasting, God has opened the way! Today, is there any powerful force that is threatening you. There is a key in your hands!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of heaven, maker of heaven and earth, today I come to you in prayer, that against what appears impossible, you hear me and make me taste of victory, because of faith in the Lord Jesus, in whose name I pray!
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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!
