Fasting Devotion Day 5
READ
““All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!””
Esther 4:11-12, 15-16 NKJV
THINK
Esther is in a tough place where it would be more easy than we could ever imagine to simply fit in and quietly fade into the background. She is an Israelite who has been made queen to a pagan king. The reason she was elevated was because the king didn’t like the attitude of the previous queen and therefore had her removed from the position. Now imagine knowing that all the Israelites (your people) will be killed. Now you have your kinsmen coming to you and begging you to go to the king against the rules, admit you are one of the condemned, and beg him to change his mind. There is little chance you can make a difference and every excuse in the world to blend in and pray you don’t stand out.
Yet this young Israelite woman is willing to take the leap of faith understanding spiritual power of a people as they come together in fasting and prayer. The power of faith trumps even the power of the greatest king and we must constantly remind ourselves that taking a stand for faith and for God is the wisest choice.
1. Have an honest moment and consider where in your own life are you playing it safe? Most of us tend to fit in and yet we are called to be Holy just as God is Holy.
2. Just like Esther we have a responsibility to bring a blessing and salvation to those around us. Who are people around you that you can stand in the gap for their salvation?
PRAY
Take some time and pray that as a church Ignite would be willing to take a stand and be different. As a part of this incredible movement call out to the God of heaven that in your thoughts, words, and actions you would be salt and like that shines out brightly for the world to see.
““All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!””
Esther 4:11-12, 15-16 NKJV
THINK
Esther is in a tough place where it would be more easy than we could ever imagine to simply fit in and quietly fade into the background. She is an Israelite who has been made queen to a pagan king. The reason she was elevated was because the king didn’t like the attitude of the previous queen and therefore had her removed from the position. Now imagine knowing that all the Israelites (your people) will be killed. Now you have your kinsmen coming to you and begging you to go to the king against the rules, admit you are one of the condemned, and beg him to change his mind. There is little chance you can make a difference and every excuse in the world to blend in and pray you don’t stand out.
Yet this young Israelite woman is willing to take the leap of faith understanding spiritual power of a people as they come together in fasting and prayer. The power of faith trumps even the power of the greatest king and we must constantly remind ourselves that taking a stand for faith and for God is the wisest choice.
1. Have an honest moment and consider where in your own life are you playing it safe? Most of us tend to fit in and yet we are called to be Holy just as God is Holy.
2. Just like Esther we have a responsibility to bring a blessing and salvation to those around us. Who are people around you that you can stand in the gap for their salvation?
PRAY
Take some time and pray that as a church Ignite would be willing to take a stand and be different. As a part of this incredible movement call out to the God of heaven that in your thoughts, words, and actions you would be salt and like that shines out brightly for the world to see.