I’ve been reading the story of Esther and I would like to share with you guys what the Lord has been teaching me. I’ll give a quick summary of Esther’s story for those of you who are not familiar with her story.
Esther wasn’t always a queen. In fact, she was probably the farthest thing from royalty. Her name wasn’t even Esther. She was named Hadassah when she was born. Her parents passed away at a young age, so she was raised by her Uncle Mordecai, a wise man who served God. They lived a simple life in a village in Persia. One day, when she was grown, the king sent word throughout the kingdom that he was looking for a queen. He commanded all the young women be brought to the palace. Before she went, her Uncle warned her not to tell anyone she was Jewish. Though confused, she trusted him. She took the name Esther to hide her identity and went with all the other women to the palace. She spent a year getting beauty treatments, oiling her hair, and bathing in perfume. Then came the day for the king to pick his new queen. He chose Esther. But the story doesn’t end there. God still had plans for Esther. There was an evil man who worked for the king named Haman, who hated the Jews. He convinced the king the Jewish people were evil and would ruin the kingdom. The king listened to Haman and wrote a law to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. Uncle Mordecai cried loudly when he heard of the law. He sent word to Esther so she could act because she was queen. However, there was a law stating if anyone appears before the king without being summoned, will be killed. She had to risk her life. She called her maids and all the Jewish people to fast for her in unity. Then she went before the king and fell before him, stating her request. She was terrified of being killed because she wasn’t summoned, but the king spared her life. She shared with the king that his new law would kill off all her people and her, because she was Jewish. The king was horrified. He made a new law to spare the lives of her people. God delivered the Jews and Esther that day. He raised a simple Jewish orphan girl to be a queen, and gave her voice to deliver a nation.
This story shows us that we are created for a reason and with a purpose. Our voices are important. Our voices are powerful. We were each created with great purpose and potential in Christ. We are children of God who are part of His family and the ministry of His kingdom. God has called you to a specific purpose uniquely made for you. He gave Esther a purpose. He gave me a purpose. And He gave you a purpose.
In order to know what our purpose is, we have to know who we are. God’s thoughts toward us are precious and yet many of us often struggle to think a handful of good thoughts about ourselves.
1 Corinthians 2:16 “For, who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him? But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
That scripture tells us that we have the mind of Christ, so our thoughts should be more in line with His thoughts. Why do so many of us struggle with understanding and believing who we are.
1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
This scripture tells us that our enemy is actively looking to devour us. If the devil can convince us that we are not who God has said we are, he has successfully silenced us. This has been his plan from the very beginning when he asked Eve, “Did God really say …” He even used this strategy on Jesus when he tempted Him in the desert, saying “If you really are the Son of God …” The enemy comes questioning our focus away from who we really are. If we don’t know who we really are in Christ, then it’s going to be hard to know what our purpose is. So, a question arises – How can we fight the enemy’s plan and succeed in seeing ourselves the way our Heavenly Father sees us? Simple: Fix your eyes on the One who knows who you really are.
Colossians 3:3 “For you died to this life, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
That scripture tells us that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. If we are to find who we are, we cannot look to the world, to other people, or even to ourselves to find the answer. Christ is the answer. When we seek Him, we find who we truly are and our purpose.
The best way to find out who we really are is to ask Him and read His Word. These scriptures are the truth. I believe that speaking out the truth is powerful.
Jeremiah 31: 3 -> I am Beloved
1 John 3:1 -> I am a child of God
1 Peter 2:24 -> I am Forgiven
Isaiah 1:18 -> I am washed clean
Galatians 5:1 -> I am Free
Psalm 139:14 -> I am wonderfully made
Ephesians 2:10 -> I am a masterpiece
Deuteronomy 31:8 -> I am never alone
I encourage you to speak those 8 statements over yourself. In fact, I challenge you to. Right now. Don’t just say them in your head. Say them out loud. There is so much power in doing so. Don’t let the devil question you on who you are. Tell him. Tell him who you are. You are Beloved. You are a child of God. You are Forgiven. You are washed clean. You are Free. You are wonderfully made. You are a masterpiece. You are never alone. Speak it, because it’s the truth. And there’s so much power in speaking out the truth.
That’s all for now. Until next time(:
Yours in Christ,
Karrie
