This week we celebrated Purim! Purim is the feast that Mordecai and Esther set in place after they were delivered from Haman’s evil plan. It is a fun filled celebration, with kids and some adults dressed up in funny costumes parading about! They have lots of parties and eat fun cookies called Haman’s Ears. The kids I nanny had loads of fun dressing up, partying and eating LOTS of candy and sweets.
We spent a lot of time praying into the story of Esther this past week, asking God for more revelation. A few things that I thought were significant are as follows:
1. Esther 5:1 – Esther put on her royal robes. We are to be clothed in royal robes! We are royalty and it is time for us to step into this role.
2. 5:2-3 – We are entering a time where we will be shown great favor. When the King saw Esther he didn’t sit there and struggle to decide if he should extend his scepter. She had favor and he extended it right away. Then before she made any request he said she could have anything she wanted, up to half his kingdom (which was huge by the way). She was his favorite and he found great delight in her. It is the same between us and the King of Kings. He delights in us and desires to answer us.
3. 5:4, 5:8, 7:3, 8:5, 9:13 – She remained humble. She never demanded anything from the king. She said “if it pleases the king”. We are not to demand things of God. We are His favorites, yes, but He is still God and we are not. It is important that we remember who we are and who He is and make our requests in humility not arrogance.
4. 9:1 – Two decrees were written in the Book of Esther, one by Haman and one by Mordecai. Both of these men were given authority by the king to write the decrees, but the king did not take an active part in the writing of either. However, in 9:1 they are both referred to as decrees of the king. When God created the earth He gave man authority over it which we gave away through sin, but when Yeshua died on the cross He took back that authority from the enemy. We are able to walk in the authority God created us to walk in once again! So, as sons of God and as the Bride of Yeshua we now wear the “signet ring” and what we decree is seen as a decree from the King! How exciting is this?
On a slightly different note, today we spent a lot of time praying into all of the shaking (in both the natural and the spiritual) that God has been doing lately. A few of the scriptures we prayed from are Psalm 2, 29, 83 and Isaiah 30:29-33. It’s the voice of the Lord that is shaking the earth and because of all of these shakings those who are in opposition to the Lord are reacting!! We are going to see the results of this soon enough, but just remember who is doing the shaking, it’s not them, it’s GOD!!! I found the results of the quakes in Haiti and Chile very interesting in the natural. They said that Chile didn’t suffer as many casualties from the quake (which was bigger than the one in Haiti) because their structures were better built and they were simply more prepared for a quake. Interesting isn’t it? God says He’s going to shake everything that can be shaken. But we can prepare for the shakings and be left standing when it’s all over! (Heb. 12:27-29)
We are not to walk in fear when the world around us is shaking. We are to be at rest in our Father. I love Psalm 131:2-3 “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Oh Israel, trust in the Lord from this time forth and forever.” A huge key to standing when everything is shaking is being able to rest in Him. We can’t be caught up in the fear and tumult of the lost around us; if we aren’t at rest in Him we won’t be able to draw others into that place either.
I saw a painting entitled Peace and I’ve never forgotten it. The picture was of a huge waterfall and lots of crashing waves, but on a branch hanging close to the water was a small bird in a nest resting. The tranquil scenes we often see and call peaceful aren’t really portraying the full essence of peace. Like the bird, we must be able to trust Him enough to rest in our nest while all of this chaos is breaking out around us. Now is the time for us to prepare and learn to trust, rest and be at peace.
Much love and Shalom to all of you!
~Lydia
Pictures: #1 the kids and me on Purim,
#2 naptime in the car
#3 The Kodyphant
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