Esther Reading Plan – W3D5
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 3 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank God that you can meet with Him and ask Him to encourage your heart through HIs word today.
Bible Reading: Romans 8:26-39
Read these verses three times slowly.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified;those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection & Questions
In Esther 2, Esther faces a very difficult situation, and it’s hard to see what God is up to. But God is at work behind the scenes, working on something very special that we will see as we continue to read through Esther.
In Romans 8, Paul writes some of the most amazing words about the sovereignty of God and his work on behalf of His people. There are so many phrases to meditate on. One phrase is this: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” What does it mean to be “more than conquerors”? If you’ve conquered something surely that’s enough? To be “more than conquerors” means we won’t just survive our trials, but those trials in the end will make our joy even greater. These trials which were trying to bring us down will actually end up serving us.
We may not feel like “more than conquerors” or even a conqueror when facing trials right now. You may not even feel like you’re surviving. Hold on. God is with you. And he will make you a “more than conqueror”.
- What phrases in Romans 8 are an encouragement to you today?
- How could painful situations we face right now serve our joy in the end?
Prayer
Pray in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Prepare to Meet with Jesus
Go to your quiet place. When there are no devices around that will distract you, take a deep breath. Blow it out slowly. Do that again. And do it one last time. Ask God for His help to read and understand.
Bible Reading: Esther 2:17-18
Read these verses three times slowly.
The king liked Esther more than he liked any of the other women. She pleased him more than any of the other young women. So he put a royal crown on her head. He made her queen in Vashti’s place. Then the king gave a feast to honor Esther. All his nobles and officials were invited. He announced a holiday all through the territories he ruled over. He freely gave many gifts in keeping with his royal wealth.
Reflection & Questions
Have you ever won a contest or a tournament? It feels really good to win something. The young women that were brought to the palace did not choose to be there. They were forced into a competition to be queen. But winning can still feel good.
Esther was chosen! Not only did she go to live in the palace, she got to become queen. She was the only one who was honored in that way. This was not what Esther had chosen, but she had done her best, and now she was the queen.
The king had another party to celebrate Esther. There was a special holiday with gifts and everything. Esther had made the best of a hard situation. She was now the queen, and she would soon find out that God could use all these things to work out His plan.
God can use all of the experiences in our lives to work out His plan. He uses the good and the bad, the hard and the easy, and everything in between.
- Think of a time when you won something. How did it feel? Did you want to win?
- Was there ever a time when you tried hard at something you didn’t want to do? How did it turn out?
Pray
Thank God that He is always with us. Thank Him for using hard things in our lives to work out His plan. Ask Him to help you honor Him and do your best.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
