The Daily Word: Monday, August 19th, 2019
Esther 4:1-7:10
1 Corinthians 12:1-26
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 21:21-22
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“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
This would be the most important day of Esther’s life. She would approach King Ahasuerus, and ask him to spare the Jewish people. It was illegal for Esther to enter the presence of the king. If anything went wrong, she would be executed. She knew what she had to do!
But before she did it, she insisted on doing one thing. “I will fast” (v 16). Esther would fast for three days; and she also asked everyone she knew to fast for her! Esther refused to go into the king’s presence without fasting first! Fasting positions you for favor. Fasting empties you of the things of this world, and focuses your attention on the things of God so you can make your requests with “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16).
Esther knew that how she prepared for her conversation with the king would be just as important as the actual words she used. Before you pray, are you positioning yourself through fasting? Are you fasting for other people who are seeking God for major things? Is fasting a consistent and persistent part of your life?
“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” – Matt 17:21
Prayer:
Father, I pray that fasting would be my immediate response to significant life events. When something goes well, I want to fast and praise You. When something goes wrong, I want to fast and seek You! I pray You would help me to make fasting a persistent part of my life, in Jesus’ name!
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.
© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.