E-Message Bible/Commentary

The custom and law of Esther's time permitted her not to approach the king unless she was invited. In order to save her people, she concluded that she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Without permission, she went to see the king saying, "If I perish, I perish." She did it in the spirit of conscious dependence upon God.
 
We, too, should take that position and let nothing — absolutely nothing stand in our way of serving God and helping God's people. When you see someone needing help on your job, or in the classroom, or in your daily life wherever you may be, don't walk away from the problem. Instead ask God for direction, and act! God may have placed you where your are "for such a time as this."
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Sometimes people go through things that on a human level they see no way out or no solution in sight. By the conscious dependence on God, we might be in the perfect place to show them God's goodness through our own lives. It is not just to say we are Christians, our lives should show others that we are Christians.

When problems arise in the work place, in the classroom, in the church, or in the home, you should always know that God could use you to be the instrument for carrying out God's plan. Stop, take a deep breath and ask yourself, "Could it be that I am here for such a time as this?"
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You have probably heard and used the expression, "Being at the right place at the right time." I truly believe people are at the place where God wants them to be when He wants them to be there. But what about being at the wrong place at the right time, and/or being at the right place at the wrong time? I still believe God directs us where we should be. Going on our own is a different story. What we do with that time and space is really up to us. It depends on our attitude and how we respond to our surroundings. I believe God plants us at certain places at certain times to be a part of His larger plan. While you might reap many benefits yourself, God is working through you for a larger group of people.
 
We see this illustrated not only in the above scripture, but all the way through the Bible. Circumstances put Esther in the king's palace "for such a time as that." Moses was the leader of millions of people as part of God's bigger plans for Israel. You, too, just might be where you are to be instrumental for God to raise up His people. Let's bloom where we are planted. Let's not kick against the pricks. Instead, let us go forth with vigor and vitality enjoying where we are; knowing that God is there with us.
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There is a reason for where you are at this very moment. You might not be able to see the logic in it, but neither did Esther when she was placed in the palace of King Xerxes. Esther must have wondered so often about the plan of God and the part she would play in helping God to fulfill His promises.
 
It wasn't long before Esther found out her purpose. She was in the palace to play a major role in saving a whole nation. At that time it could have been death to speak to the king without permission. Because her people were in trouble, Esther took a chance on going to see the king. She said, "If I perish, I perish but I'm going to see the king." She literally staked her life on the providence of God that would enable Him to keep His promises concerning His plan.
 
Why was Esther where she was for such a time as that? To be the human instrument by which God carried out His plan. Why are you where you are for such a time as this? To be the human instrument by which God is carrying out His plan.
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Prayer is communication with God. Since we are all helpless and hopeless and dependent upon God, we should communicate with Him frequently. Throughout the day, let's join our hearts together as we pray for our nation and for the thousands of victims of this national tragedy. The attack on America as a result of the airplane crashes affects us all.
 
The above scripture was spoken by Esther after a decree went out to destroy all the Jews. Esther said, "Go, gather together all the Jews and fast with me, and neither eat or drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise" (Esther 4:16). Esther's prayer was answered and the Jews were spared. "The Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day" (Esther 8:17).
 
Let pray and fast for our nation! Praying and fasting work as we have seen through the Book of Esther.
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"The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale" premiered on Lifetime Television the last three nights.  Fantasia Barrino is the 2004 American Idol who originally said no when asked to play herself in the movie about the hardships she had to endure. She did not want to go back to those painful parts in her life. What made her change her mind was the realization that she could help other young people by letting them know that life is not a fairy tale.

A fairy tale, as you know, begins with "Once upon a time." All of us can use that opening line as the beginning of our story. But how many of us can say without a shadow of doubt the last line of the fairy tale: "And they lived happily ever after"?  Many of us can't say that because we are living between the "Once upon a time" and the "They lived happily ever after."  So, what do we do in the meantime?

In the meantime, we acknowledge who we are. We acknowledge our problems. We acknowledge our pain.  Dr. Phil says, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge." Fantasia acknowledged who she was and the problems she faced. Of all her problems, there was one that gave her the strength and the courage not to give up.  She knew she had to break the curse over her family. She said her grandmother gave up on her dream, her mother gave up on her dream and if Fantasia gave up on her dream, then the pattern would continue for her daughter, Zion, to give up on hers as well. Fantasia was motivated to break the family curse. And she did.

Life is not a fairy tale, but we can change what happens to you by never giving up. Like Fantasia, we can endure especially when we are propelled by the right motivation. If you did not see "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale" when it premiered, watch it when it airs again. And remember while life is not a fairy tale, we do have some say so about what happens to us and what happens for us by not giving up.

Let's endure until the end!
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