Thursday, September 28: Esther 5- When we are seeking God's guidance.

Yesterday’s chapter ends with Esther say to her uncle 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” (4:16)

Today the chapter opens with Esther being a woman of her word. On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance (1).

When we have prayed it is time to act.

A pastor mentor of mine told me years ago, ‘When you are wondering what to do with a decision, you need to make pick a time frame. Then pray, seek the Lord and the counsel of others, and when the time is up follow through on the decision that seems best to you then’.

After we pray asking for guidance we have to step out in faith and act on the sense of God’s leading that we have. If our discernment is off, God can redirect us.  If it is correct we are moving forward with God’s plan. To remain in neutral is not faith, it is a lack of faith. It is much easier to change the course of a moving ocean liner than it is to get it started from the dock.

Faith requires action. So be like Esther, pray, and fast if necessary, seek counsel but when the time comes ACT.

Esther did not know what the king would do when she entered his room, but the time for action had come. Her three days of prayer and fasting had come.

Hebrews 11 has been rightly called the ‘faith’ chapter. Over and over the writer referenced the faith of biblical men and women.  With each name comes the action they took because of their faith.

By faith:

·         Abel brought a better offering

·         Enoch was taken from this life

·         Noah built an ark

·         Abraham obeyed and went

·         Sarah bore children (see Hebrews 11:4-11)

Faith becomes faith through action. Esther went in to see the king.

Is God leading you? Then step out in faith...

Lord, give me the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah and the other heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.