Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave a copy of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
– Esther 4:1-8
Devotion
The news of the intended annihilation of the Jews reached Esther. Now between the extreme need of her people and the king she became a direct link. The custom and law of the court forbade her to approach the king except at his command. Still, the urgency of the situation appealed to her, and with great courage she determined to venture into the fray.
The Big Question
Esther would be taking a huge risk in approaching the king on behalf of her people. Based on the royal standards of that culture, she would be put to death for attempting this. After three days of prayer and fasting, she would muster up the courage to approach Xerxes. What kind of risks might God be asking you to take on at this time? Do you the faith to push past your fear and even risk your life? What will it take to strengthen your faith, so that, like Esther you would be willing to risk it all in your pursuit of God’s will?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.