Prayer and Fasting

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." -Esther 4:16 (NIV)

The book of Esther has all of the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster film (I'm guessing the Motion Picture Association would give it a "R" rating). There's a king who throws a seven day party and allows people to drink without restrictions. He then wants to show off his wife, the queen, to the drunken guests because she's "lovely to look at."  The queen, apparently not wanting to be eye candy for a bunch of drunks, refuses to make an appearance at the party and this angers the king. He gets rid of the queen and a search begins for a new queen. Esther is chosen because (surprise) the king is more attracted to her than any of the other virgins he sees and she becomes the new queen.

Esther has a cousin, Mordecai, who overhears a plot to assassinate the king. He informs Esther who informs the king. Those planning the assassination get impaled and Mordecai gets the credit for foiling their plan. Meanwhile, a man named Haman rises in status in the eyes of the king. It goes to Haman's head and he soon expects everyone to bow down to him out of respect. Mordecia refuses to bow down to anyone but God. Not surprisingly Haman decides to kill Mordecai. But that's not enough for Haman: he intends to kill all Jewish people (can you say prejudice?). Mordecai gets word of Haman's plan to his cousin, the queen, and asks Esther to intervene. What he asks Esther to do is illegal and could result in her death.

What stands out the most for me this morning as I read this story is that, before Esther does anything, she asks Mordecai and all the Jews of Susa to join her in a time of prayer and fasting. She understands the importance of seeking the support of other believers and seeking the will of God in this important decision.

Your life may not have all the elements of a blockbuster Hollywood film. Seven-day long parties, choosing partners based solely on looks, prejudice against people because of their race, jealousy, and murder plots might make for good movies (although I don't think so) but they certainly don't make for a good life.

What does make for a good life is, when faced with important decisions, seeking the support of other believers and seeking the will of God. May God grant you the grace to do those things today.


Tomorrow's suggested scripture readings are Esther 9-10 and Luke 19.