In today's reading we find Esther and all the Jews in a serious crisis... a life and death crisis! Esther has been asked to go before the King and speak on behalf of the Jews, but she knows that if the king does not welcome her, she could die. This crisis is too big for her, so she fasts and prayers for 3 days and asks all the Jews of the realm to do the same.
"The crisis that Esther faced demanded quick, earnest action; but both she and Mordecai realized that unless God should work mightily in their behalf, their own efforts would be unavailing. So Esther took time for communion with God, the source of her strength. “Go,” she directed Mordecai, “gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” Verse 16. (PK 601)While most in the world don't realize it, we are living in a time of great spiritual peril as the enemy of souls is bent on destroying God's people. We who know the light, who know the truth are to be as watchmen upon the wall. God has called us for such a time as this, to use all our influence for His glory, to use our pen, our voice, our talents to draw people to the throne of the Almighty who alone can save us. We so desperately need a deeper walk. We need the Lord to teach us how to truly seek Him, how to fast, how to pray, and how to stand as intercessors for the land before destruction falls.
I find it interesting that today's reading in Luke the disciples are asking Jesus, "Lord, teach us how to pray." We need to be asking that same question today. "Lord, teach us how to pray. Teach us how to mend our walls, how to stand in the gap on behalf of others... Teach us how to be men and women of influence like Ezra, like Nehemiah, like a beautiful queen named Esther... who were called for such a time as this."
Tomorrow's Reading: Esther 6-7 and Luke 12
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