god – God's Word Girl

In the House

King Ahasuerus swirled the remains of the wine in his golden, animal shaped vessel before draining it. Satisfied, smile curling his lips, he sat back, hazel eyes twinkling as he observed the rare beauty of his queen. He loved her above all the others. Perhaps even more now that she had exhibited such courage in approaching him without being summoned by him. She was as intriguing as she was beautiful.

The king cast a sidelong glance at Haman, the only other guest save he. Haman wore flowing violet and white robes and a smug expression. The king’s brow furrowed in contemplation as to why she had invited this man to his banquet, both the day before and this; perhaps it was because of his status in the kingdom. His mind circled back around to Esther and her unspoken petition. His thoughts kept returning there since she had risked her life to approach him yesterday.

He was unaware that he had been stroking his wavy, dark beard until he once again cast his eyes upon the young woman who had stolen his heart. He dropped his hand mid-stroke.

“Queen Esther,” he addressed, breaking his rumination, “what is it that you wish? What is your request? Ask and it shall be done for you, up to half of my kingdom!” It was the third time he had spoken to her in this manner. His tone reinforced the sincerity of the promise he made. One eyebrow slightly raised. Did his discriminating eye detect a slight shiver? What was it that perplexed her so?

As if steeling herself, her shoulders squared, her chin slightly tilted up, and she drew a steadying breath. This was the face of the courageous woman that intrigued him.

“If I have found favor in your sight, O King, and if it please the king, I request that you give me my life and the life of my people.”

He sat more upright; his lips slightly parted.

She had his full attention and continued. “I and my people are sold, but not into slavery, for that would not have been worth bothering you. We have been sold, instead, to be destroyed, murdered, and annihilated.”

The king sat forward. Red crept up his neck and met his hairline. “Who is he?” he exploded. “And where is he, that he dares to do such a thing?”

“The adversary and enemy,” she answered, pointing, “is this wicked man, Haman.”

The king nearly toppled the banquet setting at his sudden rising. His full, royal blue and white robes billowed behind him as he stormed from the room to the palace garden. There, he angrily paced, plunging a fist into his other hand. The rings on his fingers clanged and banged as they smacked off one another. Finally, his foot lightened on the ornate stones and he became still. He breathed deeply of the fresh air, ready to return to the room where the banquet was held.

All of the calm he obtained in the garden dissipated when he saw Haman laying across the couch upon which Esther reclined. Of course King Ahasuerus suspected that Haman, the man he had promoted to a position higher than all of the princes who were with him, was groveling, begging the queen for his life, but he had had enough. There is a place where a man’s tolerance no longer exists and Haman had breached it. The king’s chest heaved, veins stood out on his neck and temple, fists were clenched at his sides. His narrowed eyes pierced the despicable man.

“Will he assault the queen while I am in the house?!” he boomed.

His word was all that the alert attendants needed to hear to spring into action. Haman’s face was immediately covered.

“Haman has made gallows at his house for Mordecai (Esther’s relative), who has spoken good on the king’s behalf,” informed Harbonah, one of the chamberlains.

The king did not hesitate. “Hang him there.”

So Haman was hung. Thus the king’s wrath was pacified.

Talk about poetic justice. On this, the second day of the banquet, Haman had to first parade his archenemy, Mordecai, around the town square wearing the king’s finest, mounted on the king’s horse, announcing to all that this was how the king honors someone in whom he delights. To rub salt in the wound, it was Haman’s idea as he wrongfully assumed that it was he that the king wished to honor. That was his morning; his day ended with him swinging.

After the hanging, the king gave Esther Haman’s house who then set Mordecai over it. Long story short, Mordecai got the king’s signet ring, permission to use the king’s name, authority (being only second to the king), fame and respect. He and Esther devised a plan to save their people. Their success was so great, and God’s people so feared, that people converted and joined their side. It was said by Mordecai that the evil Haman devised would be upon his own head and his 10 sons (who were killed in battle) who were also hung for all to see. How’s that for justice?

Jesus took all of our sin and the effects of it on the cross, thus satisfying the wrath of God. Unlike Haman, that was an injustice to the perfect Lamb, the only begotten Son of God. And yet because of His sacrifice, His unfathomable gift to His Father and to us, we can partake of the life He had in heaven — and the one He demonstrated for us while He walked on this earth.

Beloved, do you feel assaulted? in your body? your finances? your emotions? your relationships? IF we have chosen Jesus, then the King is in the house. Pertaining to that, the question King Ahasuerus asked rang in my ears. Will he assault the queen while I am in the house? The revelation brought me to tears.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJ

Esther petitioned the king because she belonged to him. More so, she recognized his power and authority. We belong to the greatest One: Creator, Master, King of kings, LORD of lords, and He lives in us.

This is difficult to bring to you today because people are suffering and it is real. I am battling on several fronts and it is real. But this word brought me to happy tears: God is in the house. What I am facing I am not facing alone. My Savior does not sit idly by. He cares for me. If I could but grasp, like Esther, the magnitude of His power and authority and that He gave that to me (Luke 10:19), then the Hamans in my life would be vanquished. Hold on! God is in the house! Please join me in using the authority that the King gave to us.

LORD, I thank You for this Word. I needed reminded that You are in the house, and greater are You who is in me than he that is in the world. Holy Spirit, cause me to be more aware of Your presence, Your gentle nudging, and Your leading. There are battles I am facing today, battles that have already been won through the cross; remind me that I war from the winning side.

I appreciate You and thank You. You have given me Your name and Your authority. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Amen.

Before

I want to share a few familiar passages of scripture with you today in the hope that you, too, will see something you never saw before. Here we go.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:1-5 KJV

Now let’s jump to Genesis 1:14-19 KJV:

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Creation. One of the first things we learn about in Sunday School. It’s so wonderful yet elementary at the same time, isn’t it? Are you scratching your head, wondering why I’ve returned to this simplistic foundation? All these years, all the times I have read and/or listened to the Creation account, I never saw it.

Day One: “Light!”

Day Four: sun, moon, stars.

God created light before He created the sources of light. Isn’t that amazing?

Now, let’s look at another familiar passage.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 KJV

We are healed. Not will be healed, are healed; Old Testament, not New Testament — before the cross.

Don’t you see, Beloved, before there was need, He met it.

Maybe, unlike me, you had these revelations before (see what I did there? 🙂 ) I presented them. Then take what I have brought to you today as a gentle reminder. But if like me, this is the first you really thought about how awesome it is that God provided before we ever had need, then join me in meditating on it, thanking God for it, and sharing it today. It’s a word worth passing on.

LORD, I have brothers and sisters today who are submersed with all kinds of need. Perhaps they can’t sleep soundly and have gone so far as to become ill from worry. May we take Your word to heart today that You have supplied all of our need before there ever was need, no matter what it is: physical, financial, relational, spiritual, emotional — You have provided for everything. May we take our rest and find our peace in this word. May we, in faith, praise You in advance for what You have already provided. Though we may not see the answer yet, we will reap the harvest in due time if we do not grow weary in doing good. Let us also recall that the joy of the LORD is our strength. Add to that, when we feel we may be weakening, let us draw encouragement from fellow believers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lamentations — If Only it Was Just a Book in the Bible

Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels.com

A friend and I were lamenting and confessing things to each other recently. Back and forth we volleyed as only those who know each other best can do. Suddenly, I burst out laughing.

“What?” she asks. “I want in on it.”

“God loves me anyway,” I laughed, “ugly and all.”

Yes, my attitude that day was ugly, but the laughter changed that; it triggered joy and conversation on the goodness God poured out on us. I hate complaining. I hate to hear myself complain. There are those couple people in my life who must see my ears as garbage cans because they regularly make dumps. I hate to hear them complain as well.

The truth is, people are going through some awful circumstances lately. There are days when it feels like the walls are caving in; you’ve had them, I’ve had them, and often times if we’re not currently in that situation, we’re crying out to God for those we know who are. There is no one else to whom we can go. And yet …

I see that note I had tacked up so long ago: Complain only to God … and in moderation.

I’m not saying don’t share your griefs; we are called to bear one another’s burdens. But face it, we usually know when we crossed the line from, “Please, HELP!” to “Have I got something juicy to complain about to you!” The first brings relief, the second adds to the landfill inside. Know what will cleanse the second? Laughter and praise, and it does a quick work.

Here’s another tip: When we find our minds filling with the kind of darkness that brings on depression, get in the Word. One cannot stay depressed while in God’s book for therein lies our Hope. Want proof?

“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” Romans 15:4 NLT

“Scriptures give us hope and encouragement…” These are the scriptures I highly recommend to help pull us up out of the mulligrubs:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

I know, I’ve used this verse before and often, but it bears repeating over and over again. It goes perfectly with the first scripture; we will learn God’s will for us, which is pleasing and perfect, by being in the Word. And the best things to think about while we transform our thoughts from the commotion and tidal waves all around us?:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

Isn’t that good stuff? I don’t want to be the old, complaining, whiny person that I used to be. I don’t want to suck the air out of a room at my appearing, I want to be full of hope and encouragement, the reflection of the Son when I walk into a room. Further, I want my mind to be consumed with positive thoughts and the Word which is teaching me God’s will and what is good.

It all begins with knowing we are loved — at least that’s where it begins for me. In times past, lamenting and complaining would put me into an, “Oh, God, forgive me! I’m not worthy!” state. And then I’d be self-condemning and focus on my failure for a period time which wasted precious time. There are times to ask Holy Spirit to lead us in a self examination, to see if we have veered from the right path, but it oughtn’t lead to groveling and mindsets that put us at arm’s length away from God. It ought to lead to repentance and restored sensitivity to His Presence. That day with my friend, I caught myself and remembered God loves me even during my rants. Joy came up inside for His patient enduring with me, blessings upon me, and never failing me.

Dear Reader, are you in a difficult place right now? Are you distracted with the waves crashing all around you and the fire surrounding you? (Or know someone who is?) Then let us pray:

Father, I thank You that You love me — even and especially when I don’t deserve it. When man would pull away, You come alongside. You see the waves all about, you see the walls of fire, yet I am reminded in Your Word that when I go through the waters I will not drown and when I walk through the fire I shall not be burned (Isaiah 43:2). You have not failed me yet; You will not begin to do so now.

I repent of worry and complaining and exchange them now for trust in You and praise to You for You are worthy. You will see me through; whether it is to testify as to how You walked with me in the midst of it all or how You snatched me up from the midst of it all. One way or the other, I will triumph. I wait for Your direction and look expectantly for Your deliverance.

Thank You. I love You.

Amen.

Thanks for joining me today as we turn our minds and our hearts back to the Word and our mouths to praise.