Esther Reading Plan – W7D1
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 7 | Day 1
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Ask God to open your eyes and ears to what He wants to say to you today.
Bible Reading: Esther 4:15-17
Read these verses three times slowly.
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “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, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Reflection & Questions
Last week, we left off with Mordecai’s challenge to Esther to go to the king. This was a challenge that would require Esther to choose to risk her life on behalf of her people. What would she do? Shrink back and rise up?
In today’s reading, we see she rose up! “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” It is in those words that Esther becomes the leader God had made her to be. In fact, there is a definite shift in the story here. Instead of Mordecai giving Esther the instructions, Esther is now instructing Mordecai. And Mordecai, who perhaps has seen this ability in Esther since she was young, proudly “went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.”
We all face tests of our faith; situations where we have to choose whether we will shrink back or rise up. When we choose to exercise our faith and rise up, it is there that we will see some of the greatest growth in our faith. It is there that we will become all that God created us to be. No longer a slave to fear, no longer thrown around by the waves. But a child of God, who walks confidently in God’s love.
- Have you experienced a test of your faith? How did you grow through it?
- Is there a situation right now you need to choose to exercise faith? Talk to God about that and rise up!
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: Daniel 1:8-9
Read these verses three times slowly.
Daniel decided not to make himself “unclean” by eating the king’s food and drinking his wine. So he asked the chief official for a favor. He wanted permission not to make himself “unclean” with the king’s food and wine. God had caused the official to be kind and friendly to Daniel.
Reflection & Questions
Do you know anyone who is on a special diet? Maybe they are vegetarian or they cannot eat gluten. Sometimes people will only eat certain foods because they are sensitive to textures or smells. If you are having a party or a dinner, you may have to think carefully to be sure these friends or family members are included because they eat different things than the other guests.
Remember that God made rules for his people, the Jews, to follow. Some of the rules had to do with what they ate. Some foods were considered clean and others were unclean. That is why he asked for permission to eat different foods. By choosing to eat only vegetables and water, he stayed faithful to God.
In the New Testament, we learn that we no longer need to worry about food making us unclean. However, we still want to be faithful to God. We know that Jesus died on the cross to save us, but we also know that He wants to help us love God and others. He wants to help us become more like him. Daniel is a great example of living faithfully no matter where you are or who you’re with. Sometimes being faithful to God means doing things differently than everyone else.
I am so glad that God forgives us when we trust Jesus.
- Have you ever had to make a choice between doing what God wanted or doing what your friends were doing?
- Have you ever made the choice to follow your friends instead of God?
Pray
Thank God that He forgives us even when we are not faithful. Thank Him that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. Ask God to help you become more and more like Jesus. Ask Him to help you do what is right even when others are not.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
