The book of Esther in the Old Testament relays the beautiful account of Esther responding to the call of God on her life. She was an instrument in the hand of God to prevent the genocide of her nation. She had been orphaned as a child and was raised by a family member, Mordecai, a godly man. He gave her wise counsel when she replaced the rebellious Queen Vashti, and she knew that she “had come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” She had an important decision to make and knew that it could cost her her life, but she threw herself on the providence of God in total abandonment. She put her faith in God to the ultimate test saying, “If I perish, I perish,” Esther 4:16. She believed she knew what God required of her, she faced the worst, which could have been death through an edict from the king, but she expected the best, God’s sovereign deliverance through her obedience to Him. A beautiful demonstration of unconditional surrender and total abandonment to the Lord.

We have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this! If we do not take the opportunities God gives us, others will! Esther threw herself on the providence of God….”If I perish, I perish.” So often we want to safeguard our lives, stay in our comfort zones, protect ourselves with insurance instead of trusting and obeying God. The impotent man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5), had suffered an infirmity in his body for 38 years. He had been waiting for a divine “stirring of the waters” for his healing, but when Jesus walked by He had compassion on him. God has a clock that is not subject to our earthly dictates of time, but is ordered by divinity for Kingdom purpose. Just as “Joseph’s feet were held in irons until the time of His word came,” so it was for the impotent man. Jesus spoke a living word to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk,” John 5:8 and creation came forth. Immediately the man was made whole – healed! – he arose and walked!

I pray that my fear of God will be greater than my fear of failure! God has given us all life – a small window in time to live our lives for His glory. Whether we are a King or a Road Sweeper, a husband, a wife, a single person, a child or an adult we have daily opportunities to live our lives to His glory. In God we have a level “playing field.” It is a “whosoever” gospel, John 3:16. God is seeking to mature His sons and daughters in the every day experiences of life. Every choice I make, every deed I do, (even a cup of cold water given in love) can bring glory to the Father. What I do is of no significance to the Lord, but my MOTIVE for doing it is important to Him. If my motive is pure, the Lord is pleased and there will be “treasure in heaven,” but if my reason for “doing” is to please men and be seen of men (vainglory for me), then the Lord is displeased and my “good” deeds are counted as dross.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” The Lord takes us on to see the vision of what He is doing today. This is a time of restoration! When He speaks, creation takes place. Redemption and restoration have always been His plan for mankind to “bring many sons to glory,” Hebrews 2:10. The Lord seeks to mature His sons and daughters, that they might grow up into Him. Jesus emptied Himself of divinity and came to earth as the Son of man to grow through humanity, to give us an example of how to live our lives – the Servant King, only doing the things that pleased the Father – this was the governing factor that Jesus operated through. He never sought the praise or approval of man, but was always seeking to do His Father’s will for Kingdom purposes. As Jesus emptied Himself of divinity, we must empty ourselves of our humanity – the flesh life that displeases the Lord – our pride and selfishness. Humility and repentance on our part results in divine “replacement,” – the life of the Son of God living His life through us, for His glory. What Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden, God is seeking to reinstate in our lives – the fellowship and intimacy of His presence.

God is stirring the waters, there is a divine quickening in the atmosphere, a stirring of dormant gifts in the Spirit, opportunities from a new expectancy birthed of God. Many have tarried and waited, now it is here! We have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this – God’s time for this New Day. When the Spirit moves it is time to abandon to Him, to respond or stagnate and remain unchanged. God produces a divine hunger in a man that only His Living Bread and Wine of Life can satisfy as He quickens “heart strings long at rest in sleep.” In this new season God leads us out of our ruts we have lain in as we open ourselves to Him. As we operate in the gift of faith He has given us, He cuts the ties of our unbelief that have held us back. With fresh vigour and divine expectancy, we arise in His strength and freedom to love and serve our glorious King, our eyes fixed firmly on Him….Let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done – in me – for Your glory and purposes in every day relationships and situations. “Break forth into joy, O my soul!”