Life Of Integrity预览

"Esther's Bravery"

Years ago, I was attending a concert at a very large venue. We got there early and quickly discovered the place was packed and we had to sit in the “nosebleed” seats! Just before the concert began, I spotted a whole row of seats right in front of the stage. I looked at my friends and suggested we try and grab them and really enjoy this concert!

All I heard from them was, “We will never make it down there in time,” and “They are probably saved for someone else.” And with fire in my eyes, my response was, “For such a time as this!!” and I took off running. Long story short, I made it to that row and there was a seat for me and I sang and listened to my heart’s content.

Queen Esther had something much more significant on the line. Her people, the Jews, were going to be killed off and God was presenting her to be the solution. She was to go to the King and ask that he intervene and stop the killing of her people. All the questions and “what ifs” were putting fear inside her and immobilizing her to move. God quickly reminds her that NOW is the time to seize this moment and move beyond the fear and doubt and step out in faith.

Fear wishes to keep you sidelined and out of the will of God. Fear will lie to you, rob you and hold you back. Whether it is a great seat at the concert or helping to save an entire people group, God wants to fill you with power to fight through that fear and see the promise on the other side!

How has fear held you back? Take a moment and reflect on the past years of your life and where you have stopped moving forward due to the fear of “what if.” Now ask the Lord, “God, would you fill me with power that replaces this fear? I break up with the lies of fear and I say, ‘For such a time as this!’ and I refuse to be held back any longer. Amen!”