Strategically Positioned for God's Greatness 2-4-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Lord and my Savior, I give You my all. … “Now Esther was admired by all who saw her … the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion …” (Esther 2:15-17). Sometimes we can tend to think of Esther’s story as a love story—a night with the king. We can forget that she was a young girl, forcefully taken away from her family and friends to satisfy the pleasures and the vengeance of a pagan king (v. 2:1-4). She was chosen not by the love in his heart, but by the beauty of her skin, to be among the harem of virgins in the parade of nights in the bedchambers of the Persian king (v. 2:12). She had to hide her true identity as a Jew, one of the chosen people of God, as she entered into a new identity as one of the chosen concubines of the king (v. 2:10). Your Word does not reveal what emotions she had to hide or what thoughts she had to bury, to endure and survive in the adjustments of her new life that were suddenly thrust upon her. But we know she prospered and that she was highly favored even in the darkness and tragedy of her new circumstances forced upon her by the will of others (v. 2:8-9). And we know You gathered those around her, who were watching out of her, with love and counsel, through her experiences and encounters of this new season of her life (v. 2:11). But though Esther found herself in a situation she never chose, out of the choices of others for their own purposes and plans to satisfy their own desires, You didn’t waste a moment of her suffering. You didn’t waste an opportunity to turn the choices of men into the purposes of God. In those very circumstances that began with the sinful choices of man’s desires, she found herself strategically positioned to be used for Your desires—“for such a time as this” (v. 4:14). Because of Esther’s courage and faithfulness in the face of choices and circumstances beyond her control and desires, the lives of many were spared and the destiny of a people was preserved (v. 8:1-17). By her obedience to Your leading and trust in Your faithfulness to cause all things to work together for good, the day of appointed destruction of her people became a day of great “gladness and joy” (v. 8:17). Esther’s story is not a story of love; it’s a story of redemption. It’s a story of how You took the abuse and shame of a tragic story of broken dreams for “a normal life” and positioned Your child for greatness in the redemption of her pain for Your purposes. The plans and purposes of the Persian king were transformed and redeemed into the plans and purposes of the King of kings. “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps” (Proverbs 16:9). “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established” (Proverbs 19:21). Thank You, Lord, for taking all our plans and the plans of those around us to redeem all the circumstances of human choices into Your holy purposes for our good and Your glory. Thank You for surrounding us with those who encourage us and guide us to keep looking to You, keep trusting You, no matter what. As we entrust ourselves and our circumstances to You, You are the God who always redeems our pain in your plans (Romans 8:28). Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts, but they are good toward us, just as and You are faithful for us (Isaiah 55:9). After all, You chose to create us and strategically position us in this earth in this generation, knowing ahead of time all that we would encounter and endure for such a time as this. And one day—a day of great gladness and joy—we will be glad You did. “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please mark your calendars for the evening of March 19th to come join our yearly Celebration of all the Lord has done and is doing through Messiah Ministries. I'm especially excited to share stories of my adventures in Pakistan, Israel, the Philippines, and Estonia as well as the exciting things the Lord is doing in our midst at home in Kentucky and America. Please let us know if you'd like to help. Please make plans to come and bring a friend to explore our ministry and celebrate God's glory. How great is our God! We want you to be a part of all He is doing through Messiah Ministries! Please prayerfully consider joining our ministry this year as an Isaiah 35 "Streams in the Desert" Covenant Partner, as we proclaim the message of the coming of the Kingdom of God at home and abroad to the nations, preparing the way of the Lord, and ministering the healing love of God. I would be glad to speak with you or your group personally about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries (www.messiah-ministries.org). God bless you! Subscribe for free by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502