“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king,”
Over the past years, I have painted many things from rooms, to cabinets, to benches. I believe a good paint job begins with good prep-work. Prepping the room is often the most undesirable task but without a good prep-job, finishing the job is much harder. You have to stop and start again many times which takes longer and draws out the job. It eventually becomes a chore that sucks the life out of you.
We left Haman and King Xerxes sitting in the royal citadel of Susa having a drink after Haman convinced him to sign a decree that would completely wipe out the entire Jewish race all over the province of Persia. The Bible tells us that while they were sitting having a drink, the entire city of Susa was “bewildered”. Outside the king’s gate we find all the Jewish population in sackcloth over the news of this decree from the king.
Psalm 1:1 tells us, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,”. Bad advice comes from bad people that give poor sinful counsel. King Xerxes happened to be doing just that and this poor council from an ungodly man could wipe out the Jewish people all together.
When Mordecai heard about the decree the king signed to kill all of the Jews, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on along with every Jew in Susa. Verse 15 is Esther’s response to Mordecai’s plea to intervene and change the king’s mind.
We can learn a lot about this one chapter and also catch a few famous verses, but I want to zero in on Esther’s response to Mordecai. When she knew what she must do, she went directly to God. She even told all her attendants to fast and pray for three days before she went to the king. Not just anyone could go before the king unannounced because they could be put to death if the king did not extend the golden scepter.
How often we go into spiritual battle half-dressed with the armor of God is shocking. As Christians, we should first go directly to God in prayer and fasting. Fasting things such as food, TV shows, or video games and replacing it with reading the Word or writing down what God has revealed in his Word is a good start.
Esther knew that by going to God first, she was placing her faith in Him and not in luck or good fortune. She knew that the living God had her back. The last lines in verse 15 are “And if I perish, I perish.” Can you say that before you go into your next battle? What kind of boldness Esther must have had in God to say that? Before your next battle, spend some time in prayer or maybe listen to a sermon or praise music. Grab a hold of God and pull him close to your heart so you can fight the good fight of faith. When you do this you can fight your battles knowing that the God of the universe is fighting for you.
Let It Go 
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