-
Christian Devotional – October 18, 2020
Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #1 We’re going to spend time going through Esther. God used her in an amazing way to put her in the right place at the right tine. Read Esther 1:1-4. Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa, in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. And…
-
Christian Devotional – September 7, 2014
Read Esther chapter 10 VERSE: Esther 10:3–Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. TRUTH: Even in the midst of the captivity of the Jews which was mentioned throughout this book, God still moved and worked in such a way that the Jews had people in positions of authority so they would be protected. God’s plan and vision of the big picture is so much greater than anything we could ever plan. Do we doubt…
-
Christian Devotional – September 6, 2014
Read Esther chapter 9 VERSE: Esther 9:3–And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the kings administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. TRUTH: Mordecai was one man. Just one man who chose to stand up for God and obey Him even in the midst of trouble and difficulty. Because of his stand, God used him as a person of influence to shine a light over all those he was around. One person, under the authority of God, has tremendous power and influence. Are we placing ourselves under His leadership and authority and are we willing to take a stand for Him…
-
Christian Devotional – September 5, 2014
Read Esther chapter 8 VERSE: Esther 8:4–Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. TRUTH: Esther came before the king uninvited not once, but twice. Even after she was assured that she was safe and Mordecai was safe, she still risked her safety and returned to the king to plead for the lives of all Jews. Do we continue to fight for what is right even after our own safety is assured? God desires that we stand up for what is right, not just stand up for ourselves. Who do we need to stand up for and defend today? REPONSE: Father, You…
-
Christian Devotional – Sptember 4, 2014
Read Esther chapter 7 VERSE: Esther 7:10–So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. TRUTH: Haman had been plotting and planning the demise of Mordecai because he would not bow down to Haman. Instead, Haman is killed on the very device that he intended to use to kill Mordecai. When we plan and plot evil, we should expect to see evil returned back on us. Do we plan evil toward others or are we planning blessings toward others? What are we expecting in return? RESPONSE: Father, You are in control of all things. You see the plans to do evil…
-
Christian Devotional – September 3, 2014
Read Esther chapter 6 VERSE: Esther 6:6–When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” TRUTH: The king just asked a question. Haman, in his pride and arrogance, was the one who made the giant leap to assume that the king was talking about him. Do we assume that we know exactly what others are thinking? Do we assume that we know what God is thinking? This can result in huge miscalculations and embarrassment, at best. If we are going to assume something about…
-
Christian Devotional – September 2, 2014
Read Esther chapter 5 VERSE: Esther 5:9–Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. TRUTH: What do we base our happiness on? What gives us joy? For Haman, he delighted in the praise and honor of others. He wanted to be he center of attention and when he was, he was happy. When he wasn’t he was angry and his emotions flipped that quickly. We must be careful that we are not the same way. If we base our joy…
-
Christian Devotional – September 1, 2014
Read Esther chapter 4 VERSE: Esther 4:13–he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.” TRUTH: Who or what do we trust for our security? When we are faced with difficult circumstances, do we trust in our situation or surroundings to save us, or do we trust and rely on God? It can be difficult to do, but only God is over every situation and circumstance. The very safest place for each one of us to be is exactly in the middle of God’s will, for when we are there, we are perfectly in His…
-
Christian Devotional – August 31, 2014
Read Esther chapter 3 VERSE: Esther 3:5–When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. TRUTH: Oh, the fury of an ego scorned. Haman had huge pride and he wanted everyone to honor him. Mordecai would only bow down to God, and that infuriated Haman. Are we so worried about what others think of us that we feel anger toward others who don’t feed our ego? We are to be point others toward God, not ourselves. RESPONSE: Father, keep my ego focused on You only. I only want to hear from You and I only want to exalt You, not myself. Keep me…
-
Christian Devotional – August 30, 2014
Read Esther chapter 2 VERSE: Esther 2:9–She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. TRUTH: Esther was in a difficult position. She was forcibly taken to the palace, yet she kept a sweet spirit about her so that she was seen and remembered and favored by all those around her, even the other servants. When we find ourselves in difficult situation, how do we respond? Do we maintain a positive and humble spirit that reflects our…