Recently on the news, I heard a story of a man who was driving home from work and saw a police officer and civilian car pulled over on the side of the rode. As he approached the scene, he witnessed the civilian on top of the officer severely beating him. This man pulled his car over and without hesitation, pulled the man off the officer, which ultimately saved the officer’s life. Talk about timing! A couple minutes too soon and the driver may have never seen the incident. A couple minutes too late and the officer could have already been dead.

There are some infamous words spoken in the book of Esther that I am sure at some point we have all heard “for such a time as this” (4:14). I have heard these words used and sometimes “thrown” around a lot. Do we truly understand the meaning of “for such a time as this?” I have heard them spoken over myself and other women time and time again. So much so that I feel they have lost some of its depth and meaning. Esther had come not just to the King’s palace but she had come into the world for THIS moment – the moment that would change the history of her people! This didn’t happen the month that Esther moved into the palace. It happened as much as five years later – talk about learning patience! She waited five years for her “time” to come. Five years of wondering and thinking, “God why am here? Why am I away from my people? Away from my family?” God was positioning her for “such a time as this.” Five year’s prior, little did she know that a man named Haman, who was positioned in the palace and had the ear of the King, would seek to kill and destroy all the Jews – her people. Haman was given favor with the King and told to use any of the King's resources to complete the task of destruction against the Jews. A decree went out across the land stating that all the Jews (young, old, male, and female) would be destroyed and their possessions plundered. Not only did the enemy seek to kill them but he also wanted to wipe their existence from the earth.

At the end of chapter 3 in Esther, it says, “…the king and Haman sat down to drink.” They were already celebrating their victory! It may have looked to Esther, as though the battle was already lost. When surveying the plans of the enemy against our lives, we eye our adversaries prematurely celebrating their victory. This is not the time to give up. This is not the time to go hide. This is the time to RISE UP – FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! The battle is not over! God always has a secret weapon – and her name is Esther and her name is YOU!

Esther could have given up at this point. She could have disowned her own people to protect herself. She was scared and anxious for the immediate future. But she did not shrivel up and hide. Mordecai, her closest relative, came on to the scene and reminded Esther of who she was and what she was born to do!

 

Sometimes we all need to be reminded of who we are and what we are called to do!

 

 

We are children of the utmost King – John 1:12

 

 

We are created in His image – Genesis 1:27

 

 

We are chosen – 1 Peter 2:9

 

 

We are the head and not the tail – Deuteronomy 28:13

 

 

We are conquerors and victorious – Romans 8:37

 

 

We are prosperous – Jeremiah 29:11

 

 

Don't forget who you are in Christ and what He has called you to do! We will be called upon and when the time comes we need to be ready!

 

When Esther received word from Mordecai regarding the decree to destroy her people, she again restored to the stage of preparing. She didn’t just waltz right to the King and beg for the livelihood of her people. She used wisdom and took the time to prepare to go before him. Although Esther knew that her next step was to go to the King, she still took the time to prepare! She prayed, fasted, and put on her royal robes.  

By putting on her royal robes, Esther not only needed to remind herself who she was but she wanted to remind the King and those around her who she was! She then went to the King and before she could even lie out her request, the King offered her anything up to half the kingdom. Instead of immediately asking the King for pardon for her people, she invites him and Haman to her banquet. Not any banquet but a banquet of wine. I don't think it is a coincidence that it was a banquet of wine, as she knew that with wine the King would let down his defenses and allow her to petition her request. She was preparing! Esther understood God’s timing. She heard God’s whisper, “Not yet, my daughter. Hold on just a little bit longer, the time is almost here!”

The enemy was seeking to destroy her but God was seeking to promote her! God will use the exact thing that was meant to kill, steal, and destroy you to bless and promote you. God will use that person, that situation, or that lie. God’s PLANS override the enemy’s plans! Do not be discouraged when it looks like you may have been forgotten or left behind. God is still on the scene and He is working ALL things out for our good, in His timing!

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 (AMP)

Isn’t it obvious that His plan – His purpose – is bigger and better than our own? Esther went from rags to riches then from destruction to favor. Only God! What Satan meant to harm us will be the exact thing that God will use to bring justice and prosperity! Trust Him and be patient. God is on the scene and he will bring justice and prosperity!

 

GATHER HER

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