Billy shyly peeked around the door hesitant to go inside. “My stomach is so jittery. What if I throw up!” He whispered wiping his sweaty hands on his pants.
Gently Jennifer pulled him inside. “There is no reason to be shy or nervous Billy.” she quietly replied. “I know what you are thinking, but Dad likes you.” Billy shook his head, “I’m not so sure. He may just kill me.” Jennifer smiled. “No, he won’t kill you. We’ve been together so long that dad will probably be glad that you’re requesting to marry me.”
SOMETIMES MAKING A REQUEST IS DIFFICULT
Suddenly, like Billy, we feel shy and nervous with sweaty palms and a jittery stomach. We act as though our request will have a life-or-death result! Fortunately, that’s rarely the case. However, that was the case for a queen in the book of Esther.
QUEEN ESTHER
LIFE OR DEATH?
Queen Esther needed to request that the king save the Jews from annihilation. Their lives were not the only ones at stake. Even the queen could not approach the king uninvited without dire consequences.
If anyone, man or woman,
approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being summoned,
there is just one law –
he must be put to death
unless the king holds out the gold scepter for him to remain alive;
Esther 4:11b CJB
Esther had not been summoned!
WHAT DID ESTHER DO?
SHE PREPARED!
“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan,
and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day.
My maids and I will fast likewise.
And so, I will go to the king, which is against the law;
and if I perish, I perish!”
Esther 4:16
If ever there was a time for Esther to call upon God, this was it. In faith, she prayed requesting God’s plan. What was she to say to the king? What was she to do?
After 3 days of prayer and fasting, she stood in the courtyard of the king. Did Esther display the nervous signs Billy did? Did she tremble before him? No, she stood confidently waiting for him to receive her.
This was life or death! How could she stand? Because she stood in faith.
Esther’s faith wasn’t in her husband, the king.
Her faith was in God.
When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard,
she found favor in his eyes,
so, the king held out to Esther the golden scepter in his hand,
Esther 5:2a TLV
Esther’s life had been spared. Boldly she stepped forward and made her request. The end result? The Lord used Esther to save the Jews!
In our time of need,
we don’t need to be shy.
We too can approach the Lord our King boldly.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need,
Hebrews 4:16
Because the Lord loves us, He wants to answer our requests.
Just as the Lord did for Esther, He will do for us.
Now this is the confidence we have before Him—
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us—
whatever we ask—
we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him,
1 John 5:14-15 TLV
Now this doesn’t mean if we pray for a Ferrari, we will get it. In order to receive our requests, they need to align with the Lord’s will.
HOW DO WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS HIS WILL?
1. RELATIONSHIP
How did Jennifer know what Billy was thinking? Because they had developed a relationship. So too, we learn what God is thinking by developing a relationship with the Lord.
Our relationship doesn’t come
from the length of time we know the Lord,
but from the amount of time
we spend with Him.
We develop that relationship though praying, studying and listening to Him. (Psalm 46:10)
2. SCRIPTURES
The scriptures give us insights that apply to our requests.1 Is there a principle that applies? Can we find a similar situation? If so, how was it handled? What can we learn from the results? (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
3. CONFIRMATION
Once we have an answer, it’s important to confirm it’s from God.2 Seeking godly counsel, especially for major decisions, helps ensure we have heard from the Lord. (Proverbs 15:22)
FAITH
When we know our requests align with the Lord’s will, we can walk in faith believing we will receive.
The Lord in His love for us
will answer our requests in the way
and time that is best for us.
Therefore, I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them,
and you will have them,
Mark 11:24
DON’T BE SHY!
BE BOLD!
LET’S BRING OUR REQUESTS TO THE LORD
AND THEN,
LIKE ESTHER, HAVE FAITH FOR HIS ANSWER.
REFLECTION
Do you have a request you can boldly bring to the Lord?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Hebrews 4:16 and say it aloud, help me to understand which requests align with Your will and in faith, boldly bring those requests to You. Grow my faith to believe that I will receive. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH,
BOLDLY BRING OUR REQUESTS TO THE LORD
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo man, Chandra
Photo lizard, Cecile Brasseur
Photo ostrich, Lumamannen
Photo woman, Barboza
1 Faith – INSTRUCTIONS? – DianeLese
2 Faith – TUNE IN! – DianeLese
